Former national roads in Laois need special treatment council told
Former national roads such as the Limerick to Dublin road in Laois should be given special treatment, according to a Laois County Councillor.
Cllr Conor Bergin, Fine Gael, says the route and others like the R445 should get special attention. The regional road is now deemed an alternative route to the N7/M7 motorway between Naas and Limerick.
At 170 km it is one of the longest regional roads in Ireland and was formerly the main road with a large stretch running through Laois.
“These roads should be treated as a separate category because they are former national roads and not just regional roads and still have a lot of traffic,” he said.
He gave an example of one issue in Laois on the R445 of the lighting on the road as it passes Castletown in Laois. He said repairs to lighting near Castletown have been carried out but a bigger project is needed.
“A bigger project will have to be done on the main road,” he said.
Cllr Bergin, thanked Conor Delaney, who oversees public lighting on the council’s roads, for visiting the site with him and subsequently organising repairs to some lights.
He also welcomed recent funding for resurfacing on the R445 at the Pike of Rushall and the R369 former Cork Road in Durrow.
The issue was raised the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District meeting in County Hall with fellow councillors and council management.