Commuter traffic in Portlaoise 'sitting for 25 minutes'
Laois County Council told 'the whole place is blocked up'
Portlaoise traffic has ground to a halt at busy commuter times, with cars stuck as long as 25 minutes in the one spot.
So complained Fine Gael Cllr Willie Aird, who wants to know when the five promised new roads in the town will actually be delivered.
"It's very frustrating trying to get out of housing estates. A person told me they once left at 8.10am and now have to leave at 7.45am because of the volume of traffic.
"We as sitting councillors have to take the flack and have the answers.
"On the Borris Road, a person sat in their car for 25 minutes to go to work. Because of all the new bollards for the Active Retired, the whole place is blocked up.l
"I would like a report to say where we are going with the orbital routes, and the road from Stradbally to the Dublin road," he said.
He spoke after tabling a motion to the April meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking for a speed radar sign on the Stradbally road, near the entrance to St Fintan's campus and The Downs housing estate.
The council has undertaken to meet him on site to discuss the proposed location of the flashing sign which tells drivers how fast they are going compared to the speed limit.
Portlaoise is planned to get five brand new roads to cope with its growth. The town has doubled in population in the past 12 years. The roads are detailed in the new Portlaoise Local Area Development Plan, currently on view for public consultation.