A busy road in Portlaoise is regularly the subject of local political discussion and in May it came up again in Laois County Council.
Laois County Councillors in the Portlaoise area have been left angry at the latest update on their ongoing battle to improve traffic flow on the Mountmellick Road.
At this morning’s meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District, Sinn Fein’s Caroline Dwane-Stanley asked for an update on the situation.
She asked for the latest available information on a proposed upgrade and stated again that three roundabouts were required – at the Ballyfin Road, Dunnes Stores and Harpers Lane.
In response, Council engineer Paul McLoughlin outlined a reply he received from Transport Infrastructure Ireland on the matter.
He said: “Following discussions with the TII on the respective junctions and the N80 Mountmellick Road in general, TII have instructed that a feasibility and options report be prepared for the N80.
“This report is to be done from the Lucy Franks (Fairgreen) Roundabout to the roundabout at St Peter and Paul’s Church.
“A design team has been appointed to undertake the required assessments and report for improvements proposed along this route.”
In further comments, Director of Services Simon Walton said he hoped this report would be finished by the Autumn.
He also said that the Council were ‘committed’ to trying to install roundabouts as they recognise there is a problem.
However, as this is a National road, the final decision lies with Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
The response from Mr McLoughlin via the TII did not go down well with the Councillors who were clearly hoping for more action that just a study.
Fianna Fail’s Catherine Fitzgerald said: “How are we going to tell the resident along the Mountmellick road that they have to do a study?
“Every single person that I know that uses that road is angry and frustrated.
“The TII has full say on this road. Even after they do this study, they could come back and say ‘no’ to the roundabouts and there will be nothing we can do about it.”
Fine Gael’s Willie Aird said: “This is like doing a feasibility study on a cow to see if it needs to be milked.
“We all know by just looking at the situation that it needs to be done.
“We have to take some of the blame too. We allowed developments to continue on the road and we should have insisted that provisions be made for the increased traffic in the planning.”
Fine Gael’s Thomasina Connell said: “Every hour of the day, the road is blocked with traffic.
“Can we erect some signs for alternative routes? Any through traffic should not be coming into the Top Square in Portlaoise.”
Sinn Fein’s Dwane-Stanley, who brought forward the motion, said it was ’embarrassing’ that nothing was being done with the road.
She said: “I came onto this Council in 2011 and this was one of the first motions that I raised.
“I do welcome that the TII are going to look at the entire road because it is the one road in the town that has had no investment.
“The situation continues to get worse. Over the last 12 months, it is impossible for residents living estates along the Mountmellick Road to get out.
“I call on the TII to meet us on this issue.”
In a second motion, Cllr Dwane-Stanley asked if a traffic calming measures could be installed on the Ridge Road between Bianconi way and the speed limit sign.
The Sinn Fein Cllr said she was willing to use some of her discretionary funding to ‘meet the Council half way’ on the provision of a ramp.
This was falling a response from engineer Wes Wilkinson that said additional slow road markings and a 60 kph speed limit marking had been installed.
Finally, Cllr Dwane-Stanley asked that a stop sign be installed at the entrance to Lyndon Court and that road markings be refreshed.
Mr Wilkinson said he would make arrangements to ensure this was done.
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