€22,000 has been allocated to carry out ‘much needed’ footpath upgrade works on the N80 at Emmett Street, Mountmellick.
Fine Gael Councillor Conor Bergin, who represents the Borris-In-Ossory/Mountmellick area, confirmed the news this morning.
A section over 80 metres of the N80 at Emmett Street between the former Central Garage and corner of the Tullamore Road is due to be resurfaced over the coming weeks.
Cllr Bergin said: “I greatly welcome this news as confirmed to me by Laois County Council recently.
“€22,000 was allocated to Laois County Council by Transport Infrastructure Ireland for footpath upgrade works by the local authority on the N80 at Emmett Street in Mountmellick.
“A number of local residents raised the issue of the poor condition of the footpath on Emmett Street with me, and indeed I am aware of at least one person who has unfortunately tripped and fallen on the pavement in recent times as it is in such bad condition.
“The N80 is a very busy road as it connects Tullamore with Enniscorthy in Wexford, via Mountmellick, Stradbally and Carlow.
“It is an exceptionally busy road, particularly with the increased freight traffic now travelling down to Rosslare harbour for ferry crossings as a knock-on effect of Brexit.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to commend Mountmellick Tidy Towns who carry out excellent work around the town and I have no doubt that they will be pleased to see the footpath on the street being resurfaced.”
Cllr Bergin anticipates that the works will begin later next month.
He said: “I am expecting that these works will commence in the last week of June.
“I will continue to advocate for further investment in rural roads and footpaths in rural towns and villages in County Laois, in particular around the Borris-In-Ossory/Mountmellick electoral area.”
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