'Lethal' Laois road junction between Portlaoise and Abbeyleix

A Laois councillor is pleading for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to add safety measures to a "lethal" junction between Portlaoise and Abbeyleix.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan warns that someone will be killed, at the junction of the N77 road and the local L290 Corbally road to Abbeyleix.

He tabled a motion to a recent Portlaoise Municipal District meeting.

"I hate to say this, but here is going to be a serious accident or a fatality on that stretch. It is the next turn right past Daltons Car Sales, before the Laois Fit Gym.

"I know a lady who was in an accident before Christmas, she had slowed down and stopped, she was hit from behind, she was driven across the road, and her car ended up the far side of the road. The wheel was knocked off her car. If a car or a truck had been coming at speed, god knows what would have happened. Luckily the motorist had observed what had happened and had slowed down and she wasn't seriously injured. 

"But that stretch of road is lethal. There is a huge volume of traffic travelling at speed. The difficulty is there's no space on the left side for a car to pass by. And when the sun is shining you can't see those braking lights, you can't see those indicator lights.

"I know that there's a lady who lives on that Corbally road and she goes home a different way because that road is so dangerous and she fears that junction, for the last number of years. 

"I'm requesting we make a strong case to the TII before there's a serious injury or someone is killed. If Laois County Council can do anything in the short term, maybe signage to make motorists more aware that there is a junction coming," Cllr Mulligan said.

Cllr Mulligan has also recently called for scooter and bicycle users to wear hi vis clothing, with Laois County Council agreeing to launch a campaign.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly seconded the motion, noting that the junction is "very dark as well". 

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Laois County Council say they will visit and assess the location, and will ask the TII to carry out a full safety assessment. However any works would depend on funding being sourced.