Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has said that commuters in Wicklow cannot wait until 2027 for improvement scheme to be carried out on the N11/M11.
Speaking having attended a consultation meeting on the project today, Deputy Brady said:
“Nearly 70,000 vehicles use the N11 daily. That’s a massive increase from 30,000 in 1998. Many of those road users are forced to commute daily to Dublin for work. The volume of traffic has resulted in the N11 becoming a car park in the morning and evening. The users of the N11/M11 simply cannot wait until 2027 to see improvements on the N11/M11. To even suggest shows no knowledge of the nightmare that drivers experience getting to and from Dublin.”
“There are some interesting proposals put forward in this round of consultation and I urge members of the public to view them at www.N11M11.ie.”
“If alternative public transport options were available we would see a major shift from cars and private vehicles to trains and buses but there is no option. This is especially frustrating for commuters who have no choice but to travel in and out of Dublin for work. They are forced to spend hours of their time week in and week out travelling to and from work.
“The N11/M11 improvement scheme is now in its second phase where now a number of route options are being examined. This includes 7 corridor options all of which are feasible with one preferable option.
“The process now reopens for public consultation on the proposed corridors and I would encourage the many thousands of people who travel on the N11/M11 to take the time to look at the options on the table but to ask themselves if they can afford to wait until 2027 for construction on the preferred route to take place.
The bottom line is this – nobody cannot wait until 2027 for these improvement works to start. This timeframe needs to be re-examined and the projects needs to be fast-tracked. I’m calling on the Government to prioritise the N11 upgrade and to invest in our public transport. I will be campaigning vigorously to make this happen,” concluded Brady.
