Council puts €300,000 price tag on disfunctional roundabout in Portlaoise

A roundabout near Portlaoise College described by councillors in the past as “dangerous”, “disfunctional” and “an accident waiting to happen” is finally to be rebuilt, but at a cost of €300,000.

Rockview Roundabout on the Mountrath Road in Portlaoise forces residents to do a u-turn to get into Rockview estate, and is used daily by hundreds of pupils going to Portlaoise College and Scoil Bhride Knockmay.

“Why is it costing €300,000? Why is it so high, is it consultants?” asked Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley.

“The overall costs involves construction, and there is a bit of land acquisition,” said the council’s director of services for transport, Kieran Kehoe.

The issue has been causing problems for some time for residents.