Laois council begins big changes at busy Portlaoise junction
Work is underway in Portlaoise to improve safety at a busy junction beside a house purchased by Laois County Council.
The Council bought a private house at the dangerous location in 2023, with a plan to carry out works to make it safer.
The bungalow is beside the junction of Green Mill Lane and Ridge Road near the Portlaoise Shopping Centre. Apart from serving the shopping centre which includes Dunnes Stores, the lane also connects to the Mountmellick Road / N80.
Apart from creating more social housing, a plan was devised to make the notorious junction safer.
A stone garden wall and high evergreen hedge in the residence borders and narrows Green Mill Lane junction leaving only room for one vehicle. There are no footpaths.
Now work has begun on the bungalow property which also borders the River Triogue and a narrow stone bridge on the lane. Some hedging has been removed improving visibility for drivers at the junction. Further work is envisaged.
A Road Safety Assessment carried out by the council in 2022, recommends eight safety measures including. The recommendations for the road are:
- 1: Improve visibility at the junction of Greenmill Lane and N80 and Ridge Road and at roadside accesses along Greenmill Lane.
- 2: Provide traffic calming along the road between the N80 and Triogue Manor.
- 3: Provide raised controlled pedestrian crossings on Greenmill Lane and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings at accesses off Greenmill Lane.
- 4: Provide cycle facilities on Greenmill Lane, ensure facilities tie in conveniently and safely with the paths along the Triogue River.
- 5: Provide a footpath along eastern (Ridge Road) end of Greenmill Lane, with a crossing to the footpath on Ridge Road, however, this problem should be considered in conjunction with associated issues relating to this section of road and the solution should deal holistically with all deficiencies identified on this section of road.
- 6: Consider provision of an alternative cycle/pedestrian route through the Triogue Linear Park onto the Ridge Road.
- 7: Prohibit HGVs by placing a 3.5-tonne limit on Greenmill Lane at the east side of the access to Dunnes Stores deliveries entrance and at the junction with the Ridge Road.
- 8: Reconfigure tactile paving and carry out repairs to footpaths and utility covers.
The work is backed by Portlaoise councillors.