Council plan to buy land to solve 'blind corner' near Laois train station

A "blind corner" on the road to Ballybrophy train station in Laois is to be tackled, if land can be bought.

Fine Gael Cllr Conor Bergin said landowners are willing to sell to Laois County Council, at the recent meeting of Mountmellick Borris-in-Ossory Municipal District.

"This came up during the local election. It's very narrow, a very blind bend. 

"The landowners adjacent are willing to give a bit of property if it makes it safer. There have been a couple of near misses. It's only down the road from Ballybrophy train station.

"We need to take out that blind corner. We have to look and see if we can get the money then work with the landowners," he said.

He tabled a motion asking for Laois County Council to apply to the Department of Transport for muney under the annual safety improvement works on local and regional roads.

The junction is at L5611 and L1612 roads at Grangemore, Ballybrophy.

The council replied that the road has been included in their application for 2025.

Cllr Bergin welcomed the "good news".

Cllr John King had seconded the motion.

"A key factor is the agreement with landowners. All these roads are extra busy all the time," he said.