Tailbacks at Wexford roundabout continue as filter lane won’t be installed until roadworks are complete

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Wexford People18 Jun 2026

Those commuting to and from Wexford town on a daily basis will have to endure more time stuck in traffic after the local council said works to install a filter lane at the New Ross Roundabout did not have a definitive timeline.

Responding to a query from Councillor Ger Carthy at the June meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), director of roads Eamonn Hore said the roundabout was due to be resurfaced in the coming weeks and the filter lane would not be delivered until those works were complete.

“I don’t particularly care about the tarmacking contract there, I want to know when the filter lane is going in,” responded Cllr Carthy who in his work as a paramedic is acutely aware of the need to navigate this section of road to access Wexford General Hospital.

“I’ve asked about this for the past four months, I was assured it was going to happen. I want the left filter lane to New Ross installed to alleviate the massive tailbacks we’re seeing there every day.”

I want the left filter lane to New Ross installed to alleviate the massive tailbacks we’re seeing there every day

But Mr Hore was not willing to budge and said it would not make financial sense to install a new lane and then put tarmac all over it.

With Cllr Carthy continuing to protest, chief executive Eddie Taaffe intervened.

“Are you proposing we waste €10,000 on relining that section just to cover it with tarmac?” he asked.

While the main issues at the roundabout are on the Newtown Road coming from Wexford town, Cllr Garry Laffan pointed out further issues on the road approaching the New Ross Roundabout from the Enniscorthy direction.

“We have an issue at the Heritage Park junction as you’re coming out onto the main road, if we had a lane on the left-hand side it would alleviate a lot of the traffic there too” he said. “There are tailbacks there every morning and it’s impacting motorists coming to the roundabout from that direction.”

Mr Hore said he would raise Cllr Laffan’s suggestion with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and return with its feedback. He also responded positively to Cllr Robbie Staples request to re-line the road markings at the Rosslare Roundabout.