Funding of €1 million has been allocated to allow the compulsory purchase of land for the Portlaoise Southern Relief Road, which is seen as a vital piece of infrastructure for the town.
The funding was confirmed by the Department of Transport under the Capital Plan Projects 2017.
The announcement was welcomed by Minister Charlie Flanagan.
“Funding in the amount of €1million has been allocated to Laois County Council under the 2017 Specific Improvement Grant Scheme. These funds will allow Laois County Council to proceed with CPO and acquisition of the lands for the route,” he said.
The completion of this southern relief route is seen as a vital piece of local infrastructure to help the flow school traffic serving Educate Together and the new amalgamated primary schools – Sacred Heart, Scoil Mhuire and St. Paul’s – closeby.
It is understood that much preparation work is already done and a private house on the Abbeyleix Road to pave the way for the final section of the relief road.
“This has been going on for years,” Cllr Willie Aird said. The road will eventually allow a connection from Lismard, at Dysart Motors, connect with the Abbeyleix Road, close to the ESB substation.
“It is going to be choc-a-bloc with the new schools there, but this will help,” he said.
Cllr Aird believes a lot of the groundwork has been done to ensure the road can be completed, including the purchase of a private house by the local authority.
Once complete, the road will link the Timahoe road to the Abbeyleix Road. It will also allow traffic coming on the N80 to bypass the town centre
