Drain along Laois roadway described as a danger to motorists
The drain alongside the Clonard Road in Mountrath
A ROADSIDE drain at Clonard, Mountrath has been the site of numerous incidents, including a recent crash into the ditch. In light of the danger, councillors are seeking the intervention of the the planning office.
At the latest meeting of Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick municipal district, Cllr Conor Bergin brought forward a motion highlighting the dangerous roadside ditch and advocating for the installation of a culvert and infilling of the drain to improve road safety and reduce the risk of further accidents.
However, the MD office said that it did not recommend culverting at the location due to significant technical and hydraulic issues with this specific site. The representative said that open roadside ditches such as this one provided vital sternside water storage capacity; in closing such a drain with a culvert, the representative explained that it would increase the risk of water flooding the public road.
The representative did, however, add that it would look at installing something, most likely a crash barrier, along the edge of the ditch.
Making the case for his motion, Cllr Bergin highlighted the fact that residents had been bringing up the danger of that particular ditch for years and also mentioned a recent incident where a lady had crashed into the ditch. Throughout recent winters, the ditch almost always overflowed and flooded the road and so he was advocating for them to look at any available climate change support schemes to provide support for what he believes are necessary works.
