Urgent safety measures are being requested after a Laois County Council meeting heard how cars are being forced to reverse up to 1km if they meet on a narrow Laois road.
The issue was raised at a recent meeting of the Borris-In-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal by Independent Cllr James Kelly.
He asked that the Council provide road safety measures such as lay byes/cut ins and road re-surfacing on the L56361 at Coolderry, Ballacolla.
Cllr Kelly said: “This is a very narrow road and when two vehicles meet, they simply cannot pass.
“The ditch is also very high which makes it difficult to see oncoming traffic.
“Because there is nowhere to pull in, vehicles are often left with no choice bar to reverse by around 1km if they meet and are travelling in opposite directions.
“In the event of an emergency in the area, this could lead to a massive problem.”
In reply to Cllr Kelly, senior engineer Edmund Kenny said: “Laois County Council will assess this road in the overall context of the development of a future roads programme.”
Meanwhile, Cllr Kelly also requested that attention be given to what he described as ‘dangerous flooding issues on the road adjacent to the waterworks and reservoir at the Knocks, Ballyfin’.
He said that when it rains, water flows down from the mountain and the road becomes unfit for use.
Engineer Edmund Kenny said that Laois County Council will arrange to inspect the existing drainage infrastructure and bridge structures at this site to determine the cause of the flooding issues.
