Save Kilpedder's Access
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Public Consultation Open

Stop the closure of Kilpedder’s local access.

Wicklow County Council is proposing to remove vehicle access through Kilpedder village under its N11 “Rat-Run” Road Safety Improvement Scheme. Residents can object — but only until 12 June 2026.

Submission deadline has passed
Send your objection Read the proposal
01 - What's Being Proposed

The scheme, in plain English.

Drawn directly from Wicklow County Council's Part 8 briefing for the N11 Kilpedder 'Rat-Run' Road Safety Improvement Scheme.

  • 1

    Restricts vehicle access through Kilpedder village to remove the so-called “rat-run” used during heavy N11 traffic.

  • 2

    Closes the L5046 Johnstown diverge and Willow Grove merge to general traffic (buses excepted).

  • 3

    Converts the existing one-way southbound local road (one way road after Barry's bridge) into a northbound cycle route bypassing N11 Junction 11 and Junction 10.

  • 4

    Bus route is retained but altered, with a relocated bus stop from the Grove bar to a roundabout that does not have any parking or safe place to pull in.

  • 5

    Council states the diversion adds a “1 to 2 minute reroute to Johnstown Avenue” via the Kilpedder roundabout - but this does not address the significantly increased drive time for Willow Grove residents living close to the Barry's bridge slip road turnoff, for whom the real diversion is closer to 7 minutes.

  • 6

    Public consultation runs 29 April – 12 June 2026. All submissions must be received by 12 June 2026.

Council diagram showing the bus route retained and altered, with the existing bus stop relocated to a new roundabout near N11 Junction 11.
Council diagram: bus route retained but altered, with the bus stop relocated to a new roundabout.
Council diagram highlighting that the proposal cuts off local access to Willow Grove area via Barry's Bridge.
Council diagram: the proposal cuts off local access to Willow Grove area via Barry’s Bridge.
02 - Why We're Concerned

Reasons this scheme needs a rethink.

Better road safety and proper cycling infrastructure are welcome - but not at the cost of removing local access to a village. There is a better solution.

Loss of direct local access

Residents, visitors and tradespeople lose the most direct route into and out of Kilpedder. A road that has served this community for generations would be closed to ordinary traffic.

Longer journeys for daily life

School runs, deliveries, carers and commuters are forced onto a longer route via the Kilpedder roundabout. The council’s own “1–2 minute” estimate ignores compounding peak-hour congestion.

Emergency response times

Diverting all traffic adds critical minutes for ambulance, fire and Garda access into the village - minutes that matter in a real emergency.

Local businesses lose passing trade

Reduced footfall and vehicle access damages village shops, services and the long-term viability of small local businesses.

Traffic displaced, not solved

Closing the route pushes congestion onto the already-busy Kilpedder roundabout and N11 junctions, creating new safety problems instead of fixing the existing ones.

Cycle safety doesn’t require closure

A protected cycle lane can be delivered while retaining vehicle access. Removing local access entirely is a disproportionate response to a genuine cycling-safety need.

Inadequate consultation

The consultation window is short, the technical document covers a lot of details and requires clarity, and many affected households were not directly notified.

Bus passengers disadvantaged

The relocated bus stop and altered route inconveniences daily commuters - particularly older residents and those without a car.

Willow grove area cut off from Delgany

School runs, deliveries, carers and commuters are forced onto a longer route via the Kilpedder roundabout. For anyone living near the J10/J11 exit, the additional commute time to reach the Kilpedder roundabout is closer to 7 minutes - far longer than the 1–2 minute estimate quoted in the proposal. The council’s own “1–2 minute” estimate ignores compounding peak-hour congestion.

Increased risk to walkers on Old Downs Road

With the proposed J10/J11 changes, more traffic will be unable to use the slip road and will be displaced onto Old Downs Road - increasing the risk to pedestrians and walkers who use it every day.

03 - What the community wants

A fairer solution - not a closure.

We're not against road safety or better cycling infrastructure. We're asking the council to deliver both without removing local access. Here's what we want to see.

Keep the bus routes and bus stops where they are

Fixing the rat-run shouldn’t come at the cost of the people who depend on the bus to get to work, school and appointments.

Don’t close roads if it reduces local access

Any solution must preserve direct access for residents, visitors and local services. Converting the one way road from Barry's bridge into a cycle lane will have no impact on the rat run traffic.

Find a better alternative

Options such as bus-only access, time-based restrictions using bollards, or camera-enforced peak-hour limits for cars can address the rat-run without closing the road. Another suggestion is to improve local access at J10 Northbound by separating the left turning lane with the merging on to the N11 with the use of bollards, similar to the how the Southbound exit at Kilmacanogue.

Balance cycling improvements with local needs

The one-way road by Barry's bridge should not be closed at the request of a cycling group if the result is reduced access for local residents. Cycling improvements must be balanced against the needs of those who live, work and travel here every day.

04 - Local Councillors

Tell your local representatives.

Councillors in the Greystones and Wicklow Municipal Districts represent you on this scheme. A short, polite email or call carries real weight - they hear from very few constituents.

Greystones Municipal District

Wicklow Municipal District

05 - How to Object

Send your submission to Wicklow County Council.

All submissions must be received on or before 12 June 2026 and clearly marked ‘N11 Kilpedder Rat-Run Road Safety Improvement Scheme Part 8’.

1

Email your submission

Send to:

n11m11@wicklowcoco.ie
2

Or submit online

Wicklow Consultation Hub
3

Or by post / in person

Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Whitegate, Station Road, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow, A67 FW96

Sample objection email

Edit the text below to add your name, address and any personal context, then copy or send it directly.

Cc: ofinn@wicklowcoco.ie,sstokes@wicklowcoco.ie,lscott@wicklowcoco.ie,mbarry@wicklowcoco.ie,tfortune@wicklowcoco.ie,lfenelongaskin@wicklowcoco.ie,GDunne@wicklowcoco.ie,dalvey@wicklowcoco.ie,slangrell@wicklowcoco.ie,pobrien@wicklowcoco.ie,JSnell@wicklowcoco.ie,grichmond@wicklowcoco.ie
Subject: N11 Kilpedder 'Rat-Run' Road Safety Improvement Scheme Part 8 - Submission
Open in mail app

Tip: Personalising the email - even a single sentence about how the change affects you - makes your submission far more impactful.

Share with neighbours

The more residents who object, the stronger the message.

Send this site to your neighbours, family and local WhatsApp groups. Every submission counts - and councillors notice when many people speak up.

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