'Miracle nobody killed' on Crookedy Laois shortcut

Residents of a rural Portlaoise road being used as a town ratrun fear a fatal traffic collision, says a Laois councillor.

Crookedy Road says it all in its name, a narrow, winding road between the N80 to Mountmellick, and the Ridge Road, north of  Portlaoise.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley raised their concerns again, asking for traffic calming, speaking at the start of the January meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District when she asked for a progress update.

"My understanding it that it was being looked at. I'm asking for the road safety audit. Since my last motion, residents have come to me again about the speed. It's a miracle nobody has been killed. They want traffic calming measures before somebody ends up losing their life. Is the safety audit possible?" she asked.

District engineer Wes Wilkinson said that a new policy was requested by councillors to be drawn up, for roads such as Crookedy with a 60km speed limit on the edge of urban areas that are being used for shortcuts.

"If we have that steer on a policy basis, it will open up the way for a road safety audit," he explained.

Cllr Paddy Buggy said he has requested the policy in a motion, and it is currently before the Strategic Policy Committee.

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Cllr Dwane Stanley emphasised that "the road is being used to a huge extent".

"People avoid the Mountmellick Road, they go around as a shortcut. In my opinion changing the speed limit or extra signage is not going to stop them. I'd ask if it could go before the SPC as soon as possible," she urged.