Work is delayed on new Laois roundabouts on very busy Portlaoise road

Work will start a little later than anticipated on two new roundabouts in Portlaoise but the period of major disruption expected has not been foreshortened according to amended public notices from Laois County Council.

And, with just a week to the new start date, officials at County Hall in Portlaoise have published details of the work that will cause months of disruption on the route that serves prisons, hospitals, schools, a fire station, businesses and thousands of homes in the county town.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live previously reported that work was due to begin on February 26 on the construction of roundabouts at the Colliers Lane junction with the Dublin Road and the Rath Rua junction with the road. However, the council's amended road signs say the project will not now begin until Tuesday, March 3.

Some preparatory work has been carried out with the removal of trees at the Rath Rua junction near the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

Laois County Councillors were briefed on the project on Monday, February 24, where they were also given sight of the roundabout plans. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

In his monthly written report to councillors, Michael Rainey, CEO, said the new three-arm raised roundabout will be constructed to replace the T-junction entrance to the new Rath Rua housing estate built by Glenveagh.

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The council says the roundabout is being constructed in accordance with planning conditions attached to the development of some 200 homes near the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

As for Colliers Lane, the council says a new four-arm raised roundabout will be constructed to replace the existing roundabout, which it says is at capacity. The roundabout will also serve the new Downey's filling station.

The council anticipates the work will take 16 weeks, meaning the completion date is June 23.