Schooltime 'chaos' at this Portlaoise roundabout

A Laois roundabout called after a famous Irish doctor has been slammed as "chaos" during school times, with urgent road safety measures requested.

The Bartholomew Mosse roundabout is called after the Portlaoise founder of the Rotunda maternity hospital in Dublin.

It sits at the junction of Harpurs Lane and the western ring road, next to several schools and hundreds of homes. 

However unlike the man it's called after, it is not safely delivering results, according to local councillors.

Two councillors tabled separate motions on the roundabout to the September meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley and Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald both demand action by Laois County Council.

"This is the roundabout at Birchgrove, Scoil Bhride and Portlaoise College, it's a hugely built up area. I drive that way. When you hit that roundabout, there used to be one arrow left to Knockmay and one straight on. Now there's no arrow to Knockmay. It is literally squeezing you over," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

"Drivers think you're turning. It is an accident waiting to happen. All it takes is a left turning arrow, and a straight ahead arrow. Since the schools went back, it has exascerbated the problem. 

"There is also a problem at the Garda station, the very same problem. There used to be an arrow going left," she added. 

She asked for improved road markings and clear indication of the lanes.

Cllr Fitzgerald said that there is "chaos there especially at school times". 

"Safety measures are definitely needed. People are getting frustrated," she said.

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Her motion asks for improved road signage and installation of safety measures.

In reply to both, the Portlaoise Municipal District office undertakes to review road signage and road markings at the roundabout.