Wicklow N11/M11 motorway upgrades stalled as funding suspended

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has advised that planning and design of the N11/M11 Junction 4 to Junction 14 Improvement Scheme has been suspended.

The move comes following a review of the National Development Plan that was published by the Government in July 2025. The review sets out capital ceilings for transport projects out to 2030.

Following correspondence from Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcom Byrne, TII officials have confirmed the Department of Transport are now progressing plans for the next five years, which will be published later this year. This will inform national road scheme priorities in the coming years.

The N11/M11 Bus Priority Interim Scheme, currently at Phase 3: Design and Environmental Evaluation, proposes upgrading the hard shoulder of the M11 to permit its use by buses during peak-hour congested traffic periods.

The scheme supports the transition from private car use to sustainable public transport, reducing congestion as well as traffic-based emissions in line with climate action policies and goals.

Wicklow council officials have pledged to keep the Herbert Road southbound exit from the N11 in Bray open to traffic as part of the plans.

In a statement Wicklow County Council chief executive Emer O’Gorman accepted the clear public sentiment regarding the Herbert Road/N11 access and its proposed closure to make way for a bus corridor in the area.

TII officials acknowledged the widespread unrest caused by the proposals and confirmed that no scheme can progress without the approval of Wicklow County Council.

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Phase 3 design work is expected to take up to two years to complete.

The options still left to be considered include;

• A one-way link road from Herbert Road southward to Junction 7 (L5019 Ballywaltrim Lane). • A one-way link road extending from Dargle Lane (with link road to Junction 6) to Herbert Road and southward to Junction 7 (L5019 Ballywaltrim Lane). • A one-way Segregated Service Road (Southbound) connecting Junction 6 to Junction 7. • A one-way Segregated Service Road (Southbound) from Herbert Road Junction to Junction 7.

TII has also been implementing measures on the M50, which involves the phased introduction of variable speed limits, which support traffic management by optimising the movement and speed of traffic on the M50, including the M11/M50 merge.

This is to help reduce the number of incidents occurring daily, which can impact journey times along the route.