Transport overhaul in Bray gathers pace as council and NTA push stalled projects back into motion
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow County Council and the National Transport Authority are moving to revive long‑delayed transport schemes in Bray, unlock development, and reshape how people travel through the seaside town.
A large set of internal reports, meeting minutes and correspondence released under the Freedom of Information Act show a coordinated effort to progress long‑discussed upgrades on Upper Dargle Road, deliver new active travel bridges at the Fran O’Toole Bridge, and establish a new transport committee to steer a wider town plan for future development.
Together, they reveal a town trying to catch up with years of rising pressure on its roads, public transport and development pipeline.
The most revealing documents relate to Upper Dargle Road, where a bus priority scheme first examined in 2021 has struggled to advance. A detailed status review prepared in October 2025 shows that none of the original bus lane options are deliverable without extensive land acquisition.
Dublin Bus's E1 route, stopping on Bray Main Street. © Stock image
Engineers concluded that the only option feasible along the full route is improved footpaths, with cycle lanes possible for less than a kilometre.
The report explains that the road does not have the width to accommodate segregated bus lanes or cycle tracks without major compulsory purchase orders.
As a result, the council began exploring an alternative cycle route along the River Dargle, assessing seven greenway options, before identifying a preferred route through the Rehills lands and along the northern riverbank.
The stalled progress has had real consequences. In July 2025, An Bord Pleanála refused permission for 650 homes in Fassaroe, citing the lack of progress on Upper Dargle Road bus priority works as one of the reasons.
The urban strategy plan for the development at Fassaroe, Bray.
The planning authority noted that the measures were “uncertain”, not contained in BusConnects or the local area plan, and had “not been adequately progressed, funded or communicated”. The refusal has added pressure on the council and the NTA to show movement on the corridor, which links Little Bray to the N11.
The documents make clear that the council now views the Dargle corridor as essential enabling infrastructure for future development, not just a transport upgrade.
While Upper Dargle Road has struggled, another major project is now moving forward. The Bray Bridge Active Travel Scheme, which will deliver two new pedestrian and cycle bridges beside Fran O’Toole Bridge and redesign junctions north and south of the river, entered Phase 3 in October 2025.
A meeting held on October 23, 2025 shows the scale of the work ahead: new surveys, updated design options, heritage and environmental assessments, and a full review of how the new bridges will tie into existing roads and footpaths.
The meeting notes show that the council wants clarity on issues such as island bus stops, right turn bans at Lower Dargle Road, and the demolition of a disused toilet block beside the Bray Design Centre to create more space for pedestrians and cyclists.
The NTA has signalled strong support. In a letter issued in February 2026, the authority described the Bray Bridge project as a “significant regeneration project” aligned with national goals for compact growth and sustainable mobility.
It confirmed that the new bridges, junction upgrades and bus stop improvements are scheduled for completion by the end of 2030, and said the scheme will link directly with the Bray to UCD BusConnects corridor.
The letter also stressed that enabling works funded through the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund are essential to unlocking new housing in Bray and Wicklow town. The NTA’s language makes clear that the authority sees the bridge scheme as part of a wider strategy to support growth in the town and reduce reliance on cars.
The FOI records show that the council and NTA are also trying to improve coordination across the town. In November 2025, the first meeting of the new Bray Transport Committee took place, bringing together councillors, council staff, gardaí, Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and national agencies.
Members agreed that Bray’s transport issues are interlinked and often difficult, and that the town’s historic layout imposes real constraints. The committee’s main task is to produce a local transport plan by late 2026, with an initial grant application due early next year.
The plan is expected to tie together ongoing projects, including BusConnects, the Fassaroe Park and Ride, and the revived Dargle corridor works.
The committee minutes show a desire for more structured decision making. Members discussed the need for a “holistic approach” and acknowledged that, while not all decisions will please everyone, the town needs to make choices that benefit the wider community. They agreed that public consultation will be required at a later stage.
The committee also plans to gather accident data, review active travel plans and identify key problem locations. The minutes show that councillors are aware of the scale of the challenge, with one noting that Bray’s layout means that “what works elsewhere may not necessarily be feasible locally”.