Ten years on and nothing done: Families demand action on Laois road that claimed five lives
A Rathdowney Councillor expressed frustration as demands for safety measures remain unaddressed
A Laois road that has claimed five lives in recent years has still received no safety improvement works.
The Middlemount road from Rathdowney has claimed the lives of five locals in recent years.
On St Stephen's day in 2008, 18 year old Kevin Bergin lost his life on this road.
In April of 2009, 35 year old Paddy White lost his life in a motorcycle accident on the Middlemount road.
Pictured: A memorial to Orla Curry, Angela Kelly and Martin Brophy, who sadly passed away in 2015.
Fine Gael Cllr John King expressed his frustration at the lack of progress in improving safety measures on this road.
"This is the fourth time I have brought this matter before the Council," Cllr King said.
"I was under the impression that the carrying out of safety measures is a Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) project, but it is not. It is under the remit of Laois County Council," Cllr King highlighted.
"Even though the Middlemount road is quite narrow, and there are hills and there are 'hallas', everyone is aware of the danger of it. We can't keep bringing this up month after month, and year after year.
"I don't want to see the loss of more lives. I have been contacted by family members to see why the work hasn't been done. Now I know for certain that these works would be under the remit of Laois County Council," Cllr King said.
Pictured: A memorial to Patrick (Paddy) White, who sadly lost his life on the Middlemount road.
"I fully support, it is a very emotive issue. Cllr King has been raising these areas regularly in the Council," Cllr Kelly said.
Cllr King also brought attention to the danger of the Donaghmore road from Rathdowney, calling for works to be carried out to improve safety for drivers.
"We are doing works in Donaghmore at the minute, and I bring this up as we have been speaking with the owner of the field in Donaghmore, so we may be able to move some of the embankment," Cllr King said.
"The road would meander the same way, but a little bit of the embankment moved would give it some more width. I know we soon resurface the road and I welcome that, but I would like to meet you on site," Cllr King asked the District Engineer, Mr Rory O'Callaghan.
Cllr Kelly agreed with the danger on the Donaghmore road, discussing a dangerous incident he himself experienced on this road.
Pictured: A memorial to Kevin Bergin, who sadly lost his life at the young age of 18.
"We don't want to take all of his field, we just want action. If we got one or two yards off it it would make a huge difference. There are stones falling out from the embankment and they will cause an accident," he said.
Laois County Council's Road Design department replied that they will meet with Cllr King on site to review the location.
"Proposed safety measures will be assessed," the Council concluded.
This motion was tabled at an April sitting of Laois County Council's Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick Municipal District.