A call has been made for a roundabout to be installed at a well known and busy Laois junction before someone ‘is killed stone dead’.
The call was made by Independent Councillor Aisling Moran and the junction in questions is Simmons Mill.
This was one of the motions that she put down at the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District and relates to an area where the N80 and N70 meet.
In response to her motion, Road Design seemed to give a reasonably positive response to this request.
They said: “Road Design have liaised with the TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) with regards to Simmons Mill and are subject to initial funding allocation from them.
“Kildare NRDO are assisting Laois County Council with this and have begun traffic counts and speed surveys.
“These works will be progressed in quarter 1 of this year.”
Cllr Moran said: “I actually can’t believe this, are the TII actually going to do something. Are they going to do a roundabout?”
Senior Executive Engineer Tom Drennan poured some cold water on Cllr Moran’s enthusiasm as he didn’t interpret the response in the same way.
Mr Drennan said: “This is more design’s responsibility, but I take from that is that the technical assessments is being progressed.
“I don’t think there’s anything there to state that the roundabout is going ahead or that a decision on an installation of a roundabout has been made.
“That’s my take of it. But at least it’s positive that the technical assessment has been carried out and considered from a technical perspective.”
Cllr Moran said: “At least it’s a starting process. It’s a deadly dangerous road.
“During the elections, a young chap drove straight across the road into the barrier and his car went on fire.
“He could have killed someone there. Luckily, he wasn’t knocked unconscious, he was able to get out of the car.”
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