New traffic lights not roundabouts hinted at for 'forgotten' Portlaoise road

The Mountmellick road in Portlaoise could be getting three sets of traffic lights instead of three new roundabouts.

The busy N80 road which is also a built up residential area, with regular traffic jams and no cycle lanes, is awaiting a major refurbishment.

The hold up is down to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, who rejected a specialists survey recommending three roundabouts, and instead asked for a new survey taking in their entire N80 road through the town including JFL Avenue.

The first look at that new report has been seen by Laois County Council but it will not be seen by the public until early 2027.

Portlaoise Municipal District Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley fears it will recommend traffic lights not roundabouts at Harpurs Lane, Greenmill Lane and Ballyfin Road.

“The solution is not traffic lights, absolutely no way that three sets of traffic lights could be put on that road. It already is at a standstill. We’re dealing with TII. We can't even change the sign at the Fairgreen roundabout to divert traffic by the ring road. It’s the forgotten road. The only road in the town left behind.

“If traffic lights go there, and traffic comes to a standstill, you’ll have people on the streets to protest, but it will be too late, they’re there at that point. Ballytegan, Crookedy and the Ridge Road are going to suffer more because we will have more people going out that road,” she said.

She asked when the upgrade works might start, as she tabled a motion to the October meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District asking for progress.

“I hope the report will come with the three roundabouts I’ve been looking for for 20 years or more.

“We all met the residents from Crookedy, Ridge Road and Ballytegan, I thought I’d wither away when I heard nothing could be done with the Mountmellick Road until the Portlaoise northern orbital route goes in. There’s absolutely no way we could wait that long. It might happen in my lifetime, it might not.

“There’s people on the Mountmellick Road, the Ridge Road that can’t wait that long for an upgrade. The residents are very aware that their road is being used for a short cut. I see it myself, the Mountmellick road is choc a block,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

Laois director Simon Walton told her that there is “absolutely no relationship between the refurbishment of the Mountmellick road and the delivery of the PNOR”.

“The council are committed to refurbishment, we all agree it’s badly needed. It is a national road. I genuinely don’t know the amendments.

“We have to have the agreement of the TII. In fairness it’s slow but we have their support. There should be a Part 8 (public plans) in the first quarter of 2027, if things are progressing even reasonably well,” the council director said.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald seconded the motion, saying they are “blue in the face” raising the problems on the Mountmellick road.

“Traffic is a problem all over town but the Abbeyleix road is done, a massive amount of money is going into the Dublin road, and people on the Mountmellick road are saying ‘what about us?’.

“I hope this is a positive result. It has been said to me by one residents association, they are getting out on the road to protest. That’s the next stop for them. They’re living on the road 40 and 50 years and can’t take any more,” she said.

Another councillor wants traffic lights.

Cllr Paddy Buggy previously had a motion suggesting junction traffic lights in the shortterm for the Mountmellick road.

“I support the motion in that we have to do something, I believe traffic lights are the solution for everyone. That is borne out by the TII. They don’t answer to anyone if they decide they want traffic lights. I think it’s the fairest way to get out on the road,” he said.

“We will agree to disagree. The TII hasn’t recommended traffic lights, it’s the council has recommended them,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan had also supported the motion, describing increasing local frustration at the increasing traffic on the Mountmellick road.

“It has been neglected. I was there recently with residents of Lakeglen who have issues parking their cars. They were nearly knocked down a few times,” he said.

The council’s road design section said in reply that the second draft of the Feasibility and Options report has recently been returned to LCC, with comments by the TII inspector. The report will be amended and formally submitted to TII together with an application for funding in 2027 to take the project to the next stage which is Preliminary Design / Part 8.