Road safety measures needed on the N80 in Laois

The N80 at Ballickmoyler was described as one of the worst blindspots on the N80 in Laois. 

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran and Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming both tabled motions seeking road safety improvements at Ballickmoyler.  

At the latest Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District meeting, Cllr Moran asked “that Laois County Council engage with the TII and with a view to straightening the N80 in Ballickmoyler and installing speed tables to reduce the speed of traffic going through the village.” 

Meanwhile, Cllr Padraig Fleming tabled a motion asking “that Laois County Council / Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) be requested to  carry out road realignment works of 240 metres in Ballickmoyler Village on the N80  coming from the Carlow side of the village and to take out and remove two dangerous  bends entering the village. This will ensure that all traffic coming from the Strand  Road will have a clear view of all traffic coming from the Carlow direction and will  enable them to turn right on the N80 or cross the junction in a safe manner in the interest of all road users at this very busy junction.”

Municipal District Cathaoirleach, Independent Cllr Ben Brennan said he would take the two motions together.  

In a written response, Senior Engineer, Paul McLoughlin, stated that “Laois County Council will engage with TII to review the potential for improvements on the approach road to the village and at the junction itself. In advance of this engagement data will be gathered and surveys undertaken to allow  a feasibility and options report be prepared to inform TII’s safety improvement scheme application process.”

Cllr Moran said straightening of the road is imperative. 

“We really need to get that. You literally come around the corner from Carlow and you are smack in the middle of the village basically,” she remarked. 

“There is only one landowner that you would be having to deal with,” she said. 

“We have to slow down the traffic going through the village. Entering on both sides. A speed table would stop them on the main road,” she said.  

She criticised Transport Infrastructure Ireland(TII) and noted there had been much talk of road deaths recently but she said they don’t appear to listen to concerns. 

“We are telling them, here is a junction that’s bad, there is going to be someone killed on it. Here is another junction that’s bad,” said Cllr Moran.  

“We had a meeting with them two years ago and they were supposed to come back to us in six months time. We haven’t ever heard back from them since,” said Cllr Moran.  

She said another meeting with the TII is needed. 

Cllr Padraig Fleming said he believed the solution in Ballickmoyler would be removing a ditch and taking bends out of the road. 

“That the cars coming in would be able to see the village,” he said. 

“It is probably one of the worst spots now on the whole N80 going through Laois as regards blindspots,” said Cllr Fleming. 

He said it was positive to see the council were taking action and progress was being made on the road. 

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Sinn Fein Cllr Aidan Mullins supported the motion and said realignment  would solve the problem. 

“It’s a simple solution. Best of luck with it,” he said.