Madam, - I was one of the unfortunate commuters caught in the gridlock on Wednesday evening on the N11.
While the jam was exacerbated by poor weather and a a lack of traffic management, it highlights a much more serious problem which obvious to anybody who uses this road: that it is carrying volumes of traffic far above its capacity.
This is a direct result of the paltry level of infrastructural investment in Co Wicklow while massive housing development has taken place. While the N11 has been upgraded somewhat, the train service south of Greystones runs at much the same frequency as it did 20 years ago and the investment which has taken place on other commuter lines has not been made on this line. There is a quality bus corridor on the N11 through Stillorgan, but Expressway buses from Wicklow and Arklow seem to operate very infrequently, particularly in the evenings. Single-track country lanes around Delgany, Kilmacanogue and Greystones are clogged with commuter traffic and articulated trucks.
Unless somebody starts putting some serious thought and planning very soon into how this area is being developed we had all better get used to seven-hour commutes in the years to come. - Yours, etc,
NEIL KEENAN,
Barnaculla,
Kilmacanogue,
Co Wicklow.
Madam, - When will the Government realise that roads are not just for tolls? They need round-the-clock traffic management. - Yours, etc,
PAT MONAHAN,
Cork.