Milestone in 20-year fight for bus stop in west Wicklow village as laybys completed
The Wicklow PeopleHollywood Village marked a significant milestone this month with the official opening of the N81 Hollywood Cross Rural Traffic Calming and Road Safety Improvement Scheme, a project that brings long awaited safety upgrades to one of West Wicklow’s busiest and most important rural junctions.
Delivered by Wicklow County Council and fully funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the scheme introduces a safer, more accessible layout designed to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users while improving overall traffic flow through the village.
While the launch event focused on the benefits the new infrastructure will bring, it also carried a sense of achievement for residents and representatives who have been advocating for improvements for many years. Hollywood Cross has long been recognised as a challenging location, and the completion of this scheme marks the first major intervention in its layout in decades.
The newly completed works deliver a comprehensive set of safety focused upgrades. New footpaths now link key parts of the village, while raised central islands and kerbing help slow vehicles and create safer crossing points. Pedestrian crossings have been installed to support safer movement, particularly for schoolchildren, older residents, and those accessing local amenities.
One of the most important elements of the scheme is the introduction of formal bus stop laybys. For years, passengers waited on the roadside at a high speed section of the N81, with no designated space for buses to pull in. The new laybys provide a protected area for boarding and alighting, reducing risks for both passengers and passing traffic. Bus shelters are also planned for installation in 2026, further enhancing comfort and accessibility.
Other improvements include upgraded public lighting, surface water drainage, pavement renewal, landscaping, and new signage and gateway treatments that signal to drivers they are entering a village environment where reduced speeds and heightened awareness are essential.
Although the launch celebrated the present, the significance of the moment was not lost on those who have campaigned for change. For more than twenty years, residents, community groups, and local representatives have highlighted the need for safer infrastructure at Hollywood Cross. The opening of the scheme represents the culmination of that sustained effort.
This sense of achievement was echoed by Wicklow TD Edward Timmins, who has been closely involved with the project since his time as a councillor.
He noted that the scheme marks an important milestone not only for Hollywood but for the wider west Wicklow area.
Cathaoirleach of Baltinglass Municipal District, Cllr Avril Cronin, also highlighted the wider benefits for the area.
“The formalisation of a bus stop will allow for an enhanced bus service in the future, while improving safety for commuters.”
The project was approved by the elected members of the Baltinglass Municipal District in May 2024, with construction beginning in July 2025 and substantial completion achieved in March 2026.
For residents, the opening of the scheme marks a meaningful improvement in everyday life. While the community’s long campaign for safety improvements forms an important backdrop, the focus at the launch was firmly on the future, on the safer, more connected Hollywood that now stands ready to benefit from modern, well designed rural infrastructure.