Wicklow road closure extension exacerbated as fresh disruption announced for four months

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

The long‑running upgrade works on Chapel Road in Delgany and Greystones have entered a new phase of disruption, with Wicklow County Council confirming yet another delay to the project, alongside a newly proposed full road closure lasting more than four months.

The scheme, originally due for completion in August 2025, has now slipped to an estimated finish date of mid‑September 2026, with officials warning that even this timeline remains uncertain.

The latest setback stems from what the council describes as “critical utility diversion works” that have not yet been completed by third‑party service providers. According to the main contractor, Coffey Construction Ltd, progress on the ground has been severely constrained as crews await the necessary utility interventions before they can advance core construction activities. Until these diversions are finalised, Coffey has “limited scope” to continue meaningful work on the scheme.

In the midst of these delays, Wicklow County Council has issued notice of a proposed temporary closure of a key section of Chapel Road, running from Beechbrook Park to the Chapel Road/Dromont junction from May 18 to September 30. The closure is intended to facilitate the next phase of the Chapel Road Pedestrian and Cyclist Infrastructure Improvement Scheme, a project designed to improve safety and connectivity for residents, schoolchildren, and active‑travel users.

The diversion routes outlined by the council will send southbound traffic through Delgany Wood and onward to Killincarrig, while northbound traffic will be redirected via Blacklion Manor Road. The council acknowledges the inconvenience caused but maintains that the works are essential to delivering long‑term improvements for the area.

Local frustration, however, has been mounting. Residents have reported significant increases in travel times, with some journeys extended by more than an hour during peak periods. The impact has been particularly acute for families accessing the Blacklion Schools Campus and nearby housing estates.

This growing public pressure prompted Tánaiste and Wicklow TD Simon Harris to formally intervene earlier this year. In a letter dated March 10 to the local authority’s chief executive Emer O’Gorman, the Tánaiste highlighted the “hardship” being experienced by constituents and urged the council to prioritise the completion of the works. He specifically requested that the project be brought to completion by July 1, if at all feasible, citing the significant disruption to daily life in the community.

Local representatives have echoed these concerns. Cllr Stephen Stokes raised the issue at the April monthly meeting of district councillors, stressing the importance of the scheme in linking four schools, local businesses, and multiple housing estates. He called on utility companies to expedite their outstanding works and pledged to continue pursuing the matter “with vigour.”

Despite the mounting pressure, Wicklow County Council has cautioned that the projected September 2026 completion date remains “at risk” until all utility‑related issues are resolved. For now, residents face another summer of diversions, delays, and uncertainty as one of the district’s most significant infrastructure projects continues to stall.