'Treacherous' Portlaoise road not on €31m Laois roadworks list

One of the busiest roads in Portlaoise which is waiting for major roadworks to make it safer, has again been left off the to-do list for 2023.

The Mountmellick N80 road is earmarked to get three roundabouts to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists, discourage passing heavy traffic from going through the town centre, and help traffic enter it from side roads.

Laois County Council has revealed a €31 million budget for roadworks in Laois for 2023, but none of it can be used to upgrade safety on the Mountmellick Road, a national traffic route that is also the most densely populated area in Portlaoise.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley warns she will "raise it until you get sick of me raising it", while the council are passing on that pressure to the TII who still have to provide permission and money for the job.

"The one road in the town that is completely forgotten is the Mountmellick road, a national secondary road. We haven't a roundabout on it. It is absolutely impossible to turn right from the Ballyfin Road. I ask that you please prioritise it. 

"It was one of the first motions I raised after i was elected in 2011 and we are no further on.

"It is a treacherous road for people walking, driving, using access roads. It has no cycleways, nothing. It needs three roundabouts and for the road to be completely upgraded," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

The upgrade is waiting on money from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, who were given a consultants report recommending the extensive works in 2021, with still no cash announced.

The Director of Services for roads Simon Walton had introduced the €31m budget, which he said is "a very positive investment for Laois".

Minister visiting Laois defends lifting rental eviction ban

"Regarding the Mountmellick road, you raise it frequently. On our part, to stimulate funding allocation we funded the traffic assessment 18 months ago. That recommended three roundabouts. We submitted it to the TII. We await a funding allocation. In law we are required to have their agreement. We neither have that or have funds but we continue to raise it every time we meet them," Mr Walton said.

Laois house prices buck national trend

Asked what TII are saying when they are asked about it in meetings, he said "nothing".

"They're aware of it, its a question of when will we see a fund to deliver it," he added.