Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said his party would shelve the proposed N11/M11 upgrade from Ashford to South Dublin if they were to get into government.
The statement arrives as opposition to the upgrade mounts from environmentalist groups and local residents.
The proposed plans from Transport Infrastructure Ireland would see upgrades to the 22km stretch from Ashford to South Dublin.
The upgrade includes the environmentally sensitive 2.5km Glen of the Downs stretch, which was part of a “Save our trees” campaign before the road was upgraded to a dual carriageway in 2000.
This section of the upgrade would see a third lane added between the Glen area and St Columcille’s Hosipital in Loughlinstown South Dublin.
TII have proposed two alternative routes to the upgrade, including two to the intersecting Delgany Golf Club and a western bypass of The Glen crossing Downs Hill.
However, environmental activists – including Eamon Ryan – have refuted the proposals and have pledged to oppose the initiatives via various forms of social media.
While speaking to The Irish Times, Ryan mentioned he was a member of the original opposition group nearly 20 years ago.
“Twenty years ago we argued for public transport solutions rather than widening the N11 at the Glen of the Downs. The same argument still applies today. Widening all the motorways approaching a gridlocked Dublin is pure madness. We have to change our ways,” said Ryan.
A meeting of local residents on Wednesday night has led to the formation of the Glen of the Downs Group, a group of local residents concerned about losing their homes or having their farmland divided due to the proposed upgrade.
