One of the busiest roads in Portlaoise is to close for a week, for the installation of multiple new school pedestrian crossings.
The Southern Circular Route is Portlaoise takes heavy trucks and cars bypassing the town, but it is also home to thousands of school children in five primary schools.
Laois County Council is retrofitting the road over the Halloween mid term break, with new pedestrian crossings installed around its roundabouts. More below photos.
They gave notice that they will close it from Saturday, October 28 until Sunday, November 5.
"The road closure is necessary to facilitate pedestrian crossing works at various locations," the council states.
Blue lines have been marked out for the future crossings.
Simon Walton, Director of Roads for Laois County Council, said the crossings are funded by the National Transport Authority, at a cost of €350,000.
"There are a number of roundabouts on the PSCR which were not provided with pedestrian crossings when the first phase of the PSCR was constructed. The opening of the PSCR Extension in 2019 gave rise increases in traffic volumes on the PSCR.
"That, coupled with existing, proposed and ongoing development, new school campuses etc., gives rise to a requirement to retrofit pedestrian crossing facilities to those roundabouts to which crossings were previously not provided. The pedestrian crossings will be the same as other, existing crossings on the PSCR i.e. flashing amber beacons, blistered paving etc. The NTA are funding the measures and the grant is €350,000," he said.
The council says that road diversions will be clearly signposted, with a map indicating the alternative routes will be available for inspection at www.laois.ie and Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise.
Any person wishing to object to the proposed road closure should do so by email to [email protected], or in writing to the Administrative Officer, Roads Section, Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise not later than 4pm on Thursday, October 12.
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