Cash call for pothole-strewn Laois roads as weather 'plays hell'

Wet weather winter has ‘played hell’ with Laois roads resulting in a huge number of potholes filled by Council staff but the local authority has been warned that more money for extensive resurfacing because of the extent of the damage will be needed.

The grim state of roads was highlighted at a recent meeting in County Hall, Portlaoise of Laois County Councillors and council officials where an extensive list of repaired potholes was outlined to public representatives.

Councillors complimented the repair teams in dealing with many potholes on the road but feared a lot more damage will have to be addressed.

Cllr Aisling Moran, Indpendent, was among those to extend praise but said the weather has done such damage that filling holes has become pointless in some places.

“The problem is the weather. They are filling potholes but water is coming along and washing them out soon after. They filled a big pothole for me recently but when I drove by a few days later the hole was back…there is nothing anybody can do,” she said.

She said more money is needed to repair roads because of the extent of the damage.

“Pothole fixing is not going to do on some roads. They need to be resurfaced completely,” she said.

Cllr Padraig Fleming, Fianna Fáil, said months of incessant rain since last autumn has caused widespread damage with potholes ‘everywhere’.

“A lot more roads are a lot worse than in previous years,” he said.  

Cllr PJ Kelly, Fine Gael, is also aware of the problems.

“The wet weather is playing hell on the roads. You can see that everywhere. There are stretches of road just breaking up.

“I feel sorry for the road crews they are playing catch up on everything,” he said.

He added that potholes are being filled right across the municipal district from Portarlington to Graiguecullen.

Cllr Ben Brennan, Independent, praised the staff for getting through a large quantity of work despite there being a relatively few number assigned to the district.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Fianna Fáil, complimented the local authority teams on prompt pothole repairs. He said it could take up to eight weeks for a pothole to be repaired when he was first elected to the council in 2014.

“Now it can take less than a week and if a pothole is bad enough, staff will come out on the same day as notified,” he said.

A March report read to the Graiguecullen / Portarlington Municipal District outlined the following locations for pothole repairs:

Pothole repairs carried out at Castletown, Aughanure, Killyganard, Ballyadams, Ballintubbert, Cappanafeacle, Garryglass, Cremorgan, Hollymount, Knockbeg, Ballyhide, Mullins Lane, The Crochaun, Monure, Oldleigh, Ballinakill, The Glen Road, Modubeigh, Shanragh, Coolglass, Crissard, Wolfhill, Ballyharmon, Rossmore, Castletown, Barrowhouse, Dunbrin, Cowpark, Cullenagh, Ardateggle, Aghaterry, Fairymount, Doonane, Ballyfoyle, The Strand, Old Court Ballylinan, Coornariska, Timogue, The Cuts, Fossy, Orchard, R426 Timahoe, Slatt Lower, Ballinteskin, Boley, Luggacurren, Ballynagall and Raheenduff.

Cllr PJ Kelly added that many locations around Portarlington where potholes had been repaired were not on the list.