'Unofficial Mountmellick bypass' in an awful state says Laois councillor

A rural Laois road is taking the hit from the lack of an N80 bypass road around Mountmellick.

The local road in Nyra and Camira is "in bits" according to Fianna Fáil Cllr Paddy Bracken, and it's not the only one.

"It is in an awful state. The whole side of the road is gone. It is taking traffic, as the unofficial bypass of Mountmellick for heavy vehicles. 

"The whole road is in bits. The siding is gone. There will be a serious accident. We have inspected it. It needs filling at the side of the road to keep it from sliding into the ditch," he said.

He tabled a motion asking for road repairs and safety work, to the March meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District. 

Cllr Seamus McDonald seconded the motion.

"This is in my area. There is a lot of traffic bypassing the town. It needs attention immediately," he said.

Laois County Council maintenance crews are to attend the road this April.

A expert study commissioned by Laois County Council recommends two bypasses of Mountmellick, on both the south and north sides. However the bypasses which would be funded by the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, are not mentioned in the Government's National Development Plan for 2021 - 2030.