A 16.5km stretch of dual carriageway between Arklow and Rathnew will be officially opened today nearly three months ahead of schedule.
It replaces a single carriageway on which 33 fatalities took place over the past 25 years. Several crosses dot the old N11 as a reminder of the lives lost.
The public-private partnership project is estimated to have cost €282 million. It will connect the existing M11 Arklow bypass with the current M11 Rathnew/Ashford bypass, and will create a 90km stretch of motorway/dual carriageway between Dublin and Gorey.
The scheme includes the construction of a 24-hour service area north of Gorey, with work expected to finish this year. Works include two interchanges at the Beehive and Jack White’s bars, three over-bridges and five under-bridges.
Welcoming the announcement, chief executive of the National Roads Authority Fred Barry said it would be welcomed by all sections of the community who use the road.
“Replacing this section of the N11 between Arklow and Rathnew, known for its notorious bends, with a modern motorway will result in significant safety improvements for all road-users,” he said.