Water on stretch of N80 in Laois could turn into an ice rink in winter, a meeting was warned

Water lying on a road is “deadly dangerous” and will be like an “ice rink” in the winter,  a council meeting was told. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy tabled a motion in relation to the road. He asked “that this Council carry out an investigation at the Rock Hill (N80) as to why there  is water lying on the surface continuously.”

“I thought there was a water leak,” he told a council meeting. However, he contacted Irish Water who said they had already investigated the location and found “it was a spring or something” that was causing the water. 

“When the ice starts coming and the frost starts coming, someone is going to be killed on it, so it needs to be done and done urgently,” he said 

“Even during the summer the road is wet the whole time,” Cllr McEvoy explained. 

“Without any water on that road it was a deadly dangerous road on a frosty morning,” he added. 

Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan seconded the motion and agreed with Cllr McEvoy. 

“I can only image in the winter that would turn into an ice rink,” she said.  

In response, Senior Executive Engineer James Dowling said: “An Engineer from the Road Design Dept. will visit the site to investigate the problem.” 

Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins suggested it might be a good idea for Cllr McEvoy to be present during the site visit. 

The issue was discussed during the October meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.