N11 / N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Scheme

PHASE 3 DESIGN & ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION UPDATE - WEDNESDAY 5TH JUNE 2024

Following the commencement of Phase 3 (Design and Environmental Evaluation) in December 2021, the Project Team has made progress on the development of the design of the Preferred Transport Solution.

Our environmental specialists continue to undertake wide ranging ecology surveys in relation to badgers, otters, birds, bats, and barn owls amongst others. In addition, noise and air quality surveys, archaeological geophysical surveys, cultural heritage walkover surveys, agronomy surveys, and ground investigation works have progressed. These surveys have been facilitated by landowners granting Wexford County Council and our agents’ permission to access their lands, and liaison is on-going.

In line with current policies, e.g. the Climate Action Plan, the Project Team are now examining provision of the following facilities as part of the project:

An Online Service Area with EV Charging infrastructure and Safe & Secure Parking facilities.
Active Travel facilities to meet future demand.

This body of work is extensive, and has extended the timeframe to complete Phase 3.

It is programmed that the project will be submitted to the Department of Transport (in accordance with the Infrastructure Guidelines) in Q1 2026; with permission to make Planning Application submission to An Bord Pleanála (i.e. to progress to Phase 4 – Statutory Processes) anticipated in Q3 2026 (subject to receiving the necessary approvals and the availability of funding).

Introduction

Wexford County Council is working in association with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to develop an approximate 30km section of high quality road which will link Rosslare Europort/Wexford with both Dublin via the M11 and Cork/Waterford via the N25. The M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy motorway was opened to traffic in July 2019, and the project is studying the existing N11 to the south of this motorway, through Oilgate village and on to Wexford, as well as the connecting N25 road from Wexford to Rosslare Harbour. These routes form part of the European Designated E01 Route and provide a direct link to both mainland Europe and the United Kingdom via Rosslare Europort. This is a strategically important parts of the national transport network and the project aims to ensure that the sections of the network in question have the capacity and resilience to safely meet the future transport needs on a national, regional and local level. The need for the project will be tested by the level of service provided to road users by the network now and into the future with a focus on road safety, traffic levels, journey times, operational performance and network deficiencies.

The main priorities of the scheme are to;

Reduce the frequency and severity of collisions and casualties on the N11 & N25,
Generate positive economic benefits to businesses and consumers by improving journey time reliability and reducing journey times,
Stimulate regional development by improving connectivity to Rosslare Europort & Wexford,
Support investment in the wider area in order to increase access to jobs, key facilities and social opportunities,
Improve the general quality of life,
Meet the demands of increasing population
Provide for major investment in rural regions
Avoid or minimise negative impacts on the existing environment

Wexford County Council have appointed Mott MacDonald Ireland Limited to advance the project through the planning and design process. The design process will be developed in stages, with opportunity for the public to take part in the decision-making at each stage.

Project Background

Some work was previously carried out on the project between 2009 and 2011. A constraints study was initially completed, comprising of four main aspects; physical, procedural, legal and environmental issues that may affect the proposed development. The constraints were researched in detail to determine all possible issues that could influence the scheme’s development. The results from this study were analysed and used to develop potential route locations. Each of the eight identified potential routes started north of Oilgate and finished at Rosslare Harbour.

To facilitate inclusive public engagement, a series of public consultation events were held to collect and assess views on the proposed development, particularly in terms of how the potential route options would impact on the public. This allowed for a preferred route corridor for the scheme to be determined. A 300m wide planning corridor is currently in place for the scheme following the publication of a Route Selection Report in 2011. The 300m wide corridor allows for flexibility during the detailed design of the scheme

This scheme is a vital link between mainland Europe and the island of Ireland. With the opening of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy Motorway scheme in July 2019, the section of the network in question is the only section of the 375km Euroroute E01 from Larne to Rosslare, not operating to high quality, dual carriageway / motorway standard. As mentioned previously this road scheme is consistent with objectives of national, regional and local policies and plans.

The constraints study and route selection process is being revisited due to the nine year time lapse since the previous processes were completed in 2011. The studies completed at that time will be utilised for the current studies and will be complemented with up to date studies to identify any changes to the natural and built environment in the intervening years. This will ensure that critical decisions on the project are made on the basis of up to date information and assessments.

Timeline of Project

Following the commencement of Phase 3 (Design and Environmental Evaluation) in December 2021, the Project Team has made progress on the development of the design of the Preferred Transport Solution.

In line with current policies, e.g. the Climate Action Plan, the Project Team are now examining provision of the following facilities as part of the project:

An Online Service Area with EV Charging infrastructure and Safe & Secure Parking facilities.
Active Travel facilities to meet future demand.

This body of work is extensive.

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