Laois County Council responds to complaints about €4m TII Portlaoise road

Portlaoise councillors are again raising complaints about the €4 million upgrade of the Abbeyleix road, on behalf of residents.

The Laois regional road was redesigned and paid for by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, adding the latest in bicycle lanes separated from traffic by about 300 timber bollards, also stopping cars parking on paths. The aim was to make the road safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

However residents and even emergency vehicles are finding it impossible to drive in and out of housing estates without needing to cross into the middle of the road, causing delays and possible traffic danger.

It was heavily criticised at the April meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District by two councillors who live on the road, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald and Cllr Willie Aird.

They both tabled motions on the hot topic. Cllr Aird asks for the Cherrygarth and Kylebrook entrances to be "made safe". Cllr Fitzgerald, a resident of Cherrygarth, wants all exits reviewed by the council to make them safe, and askes for extra signage to warn drivers they are crossing cycle lanes and paths.

"This is not working. The frustration of the people in Kylebrook, at Dunnes Garage, everyone. Please do something to allow people be able to drive out and allow the traffic to keep moving. Try do it to the satisfaction of residents. Brown bollards are being knocked down," Cllr Aird said as part of a lengthy speech.

"There is work commencing, and I hope they do a good job. The road is too narrow, you can't swing out. The reason for this was safety, to slow the traffic, but there's not enough signs to tell people to stop for cycle lanes," Cllr Fitzgerald said.

Cllr Marie Tuohy had tabled the first motion raising concerns in February, after a fire engine had to manoeuvre to get into Kylebrook estate in an emergency. 

I hate to sound negative but this was done in the interests of safety, and it's not safe. It's dangerous," she again agreed.

The Director of Services Simon Walton also agrees but said the job is now being fixed.

"I acknowledge that the current situation is not satisfactory.  Traffic has to cross the white line, giving rise to traffic having to stop on the road. The work is with a view to remedying this. The council will work in consultation with the design team so those blemishes or mistakes will be addressed, from the Garda station right the way to the Midway. 

"We went to the ends of the earth so that residents associations, tidy towns and community groups had all their aspirations realised in their submissions. There is still some work to complete. The intention is you'll never have to do it again. 

"Undoubtably this €4m investment has reduced speeds and there are favourable comments welcoming the landscaping. I acknowledged in March that while conforming to design standards, the junctions do require some modification. The contractor is due back on site now. Landscape contractors are back on site. They will address issues of concern.

"Other elements are not finished yet, road markings, landscaping due to weather conditions. A crossing will be provided at Marian Avenue," Mr Walton also said.