Laois Tour de France road needs warning signs
Laois Slieve Bloom trail attracting lots of cyclists
Signs are needed on a road cyclists use to get to the increasingly popular mountain bike trail in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, according to a Laois public representative.
Cllr James Kelly, independent, made the appeal to Laois County Council during a recent meeting in Portlaoise.
He tabled a motion calling on the local authority to install traffic calming measures and road safety signs on the R440 Roundwood to Killanure Road.
Cllr Kelly acknowledged that the road had been resurfaced but insisted that more work is needed.
“It is very busy. I was on it recently and it was like the Tour de France,” he said.
Cllr Kelly said the mountain bikers are very welcome to the Coillte Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trail but he said the access road must be safe. He said it is already very busy as there is a school and church on the route which would get busier during summer. He said the main danger arises from a series of bends.
“We need traffic signs to warn road users of the very very bad bends,” he said.
The appeal was backed by Cllr Conor Bergin, Fine Gael, who agreed that the road was very busy.
James Dowling, Senior Executive Engineer, in the Council’s Roads Section, replied in writing.
“Laois County Council MD staff will meet with Cllr Kelly to investigate suitable road safety interventions to be installed on the Roundwood to Killanure Road,” he said.
Cllr Kelly welcomed this commitment when he raised the issue was raised at a meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District in County Hall.