No pedestrian crossing 'whatsoever' for schoolkids on busy Portlaoise road
Laois County Council is requested to install safe crossing for over 2,000 school goers
A busy Portlaoise road for school traffic has no pedestrian crossings, a local councillor has pointed out.
The Ballyfin Road runs from the N80 Mountmellick road, to the western link road in Portlaoise, serving heavily residential areas.
Cllr Tommy Mulligan, himself a teacher, tabled a motion to the Portlaoise Municipal District, asking for a pedestrian crossing, to make the journey safe for children going to school by bicycle and on foot.
“The Ballyfin Road is one of our main roads in the town, one of the busiest roads, yet it has no pedestrian crossing whatsoever.
“There is a high volume of cars and it is increasing all the time. It has a high volume of pedestrians and cyclists, Scoil Bhride on Harpurs Lane has 900 plus pupils, and Portlaoise College on the Mountrath road has in excess of 1,000 pupils. Many students are walking and cycling to school each day, so it’s a busy route. It’s used daily by hundreds of students and young families.
“It’s also a ring road, also a popular route with walkers.
He suggests to place the crossing outside Woodgrove housing estate.
“There’s a build up of traffic on that roundabout, it’s particularly busy at school times in the mornings and afternoon.
“It is a serious road safety issue. I have had residents of the Ballyfin Road and Woodgrove contact me because it an issue with young kids and families and students crossing that road.
“It’s only for drivers’ good will, that they are so observant towards these students that there hasn’t been an accident yet. We’re just hoping that there won’t be an accident.
“There is an urgent need for a crossing, preferably a pedestrian crossing, not a courtesy crossing,” Cllr Mulligan said.
“The drop kerbs are there on both sides just off that roundabout, tactile paving is there on one side. So the logical next step would be a crossing,” Cllr Mulligan said.
Laois County Council’s roads section confirmed in reply that “a prioritised list of uncontrolled crossing locations in Portlaoise for future upgrade, at a time when funding has been identified. The location will be considered for inclusion”.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley seconded the motion.
“You’d often see children cycle the whole way to school, from Fairgreen or Clonrooske. I think a crossing there would be ideal,” she said.