Car lands in ditch at dangerous Laois junction
The junction on the N77 Abbeyleix to Portlaoise road, leading to Ballyroan along the Bog Road. Image: Google Maps
A BOLLARD designed to alert drivers to a dangerous junction has to be replaced, after a car smashed into a ditch at the site.
The crash happened on the busy N77 main road between Portlaoise and Abbeyleix, at the turn-off for Ballyroan village.
Cllr Barry Walsh highlighted safety concerns at the junction, as he asked for the reflective green and white bollard to be replaced at the turn-off for the Bog Road, Ballyroan.
Cllr John Joe Fennelly agreed, as he pointed out that a car went into a ditch at the junction recently.
“It is a dangerous road,” said the Abbeyleix councillor.
At the January meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District (MD), Cllr Walsh asked Laois Co Council to replace the missing safety bollard.
The Ballyroan councillor said: “It’s a busy road and people find it difficult to see the junction, particularly when it is foggy or there is heavy rain. It’s important to get it fixed.”
Cllr Fennelly asked who was responsible for repairing the boundary ditch following the crash, as he warned that livestock could get out onto the busy main road.
Area engineer Wes Wilkinson replied that, ordinarily, the landowner would be responsible for repairs to the boundary.
In a written response to Cllr Walsh’s request on 21 January, a council official said the Portlaoise MD office would make arrangements to replace the junction definition bollard, at the junction of Bog Road, Ballyroan and the N77.
In a separate proposal, Cllr Walsh asked for drains to be cleaned at Tullore Cross, Ballyroan.
He said: “There are a good few trees there and foliage is falling into the drains. It’s putting pressure on the drains there and they need to be cleaned.”
A council official confirmed that arrangements would be made to clean surface water drains in the vicinity of Tullore Cross.
