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Calls for busy Portlaoise rural road to be resurfaced for dramatic increase in traffic

Two Laois County Councillors have called for repairs to be carried out on a narrow Laois road that has become very busy.

The road in question is the Summerhill Lane from Ashwood Walk that links to the main road close to Adams Garage and the Portlaoise GAA grounds.

While the N80 is being resurfaced at present, many vehicles are being diverted out that direction which has resulted in a dramatic increase in traffic.

The road is busy in general as it is a link road to Rathleague, the primary schools and the Ring Road.

Cllrs Catherine Fitzgerald and Noel Tuohy raised the issue of the rural road at this week’s meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District.

Cllr Fitzgerald said: “It was once a country road, now it’s very busy, with new houses on it and more people using it.”

Cllr Tuohy added: “It has developed into a little bit of a rat run. There are potholes in the verges, it is in a dangerous condition.

“It’s not suitable for the volume of traffic. I’d bet that Summerhill Lane is almost as busy now as the Stradbally Road, it’s crazy.

“There’s 100 kids in the GAA any night of the week playing football. This is a hugely busy spot in a non urban area.”

In reply, engineer Wes Wilkinson confirmed that work would be carried out.

He said: “The L-67702-0 on Summerhill Lane from the entrance of Ashwood Walk to the junction of the R425 will be included on the list of works for road repairs and will be carried out in the coming weeks.”

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