Laois council has plans for new Portlaoise road after knocking houses

Demolishing two houses on the Stradbally Road in Portlaoise has paved the way for Laois County Council to draw up plans for a long-promised new strategic road in the town.

Progress in linking the Stradbally and Dublin Roads was outlined at County Hall in reply to a motion from Cllr Willie Aird who insists the road must be built in conjunction with the construction of a new school on the Timahoe Road.

The Fine Gael representative asked Laois County Council for an update regarding progress on completing the orbital route linking the Stradbally Road with the Dublin Road at Fielbrook. The motion followed the demolition of two houses on the road which has been bought via a CPO by the council.

Simon Walton, Director of Services for Laois Roads and Portlaoise town, replied in writing.

“As development in Portlaoise town progresses, Laois County Council has completed the preliminary design for an urban link road, connecting the Stradbally and Dublin Roads. There is a defined line prescribed for the route and this will be set out in the Draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan to be published in the coming weeks. Prior to any completion the proposed road will be subject to statutory planning processes in the normal way,” he said.

Cllr Aird thanked Mr Walton for work done to date but insisted its construction must be planned to coincide with the opening of Coláiste Dhún Mhásc / Dunamase College secondary school. He called on the council to work with the Department of Education in planning the school and road construction projects.

“It behoves us to dovetail the two,” he said.

He highlighted the congestion and commuting time faced by parents bringing their children to schools via roads in the Summerhill area of town as the reason for the road to be read when the secondary school opens.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil, supported the motion but she also urged the Council to commence talks with the HSE as the new road will cross its land.

The issue was raised at the March meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.

Apart from construction a new road, Laois County Council plans to build new homes on the site of the old houses.