No road ramp allowed in Abbeyleix says council official

A REQUEST for the installation of a ramp along the Blackhill Road in Abbeyleix was turned down because it’s in a rural area.

That was the reply given to cllr John Joe Fennelly when he asked for extra traffic calming measures along the road during the April meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District Council.

The council’s senior executive engineer Wes Wilkinson said that while he would consider additional traffic measures in the area, he could not accede to the request for a ramp.

Mr Wilkinson said: “The area in question is a rural area. In general terms such ramps are only located in urban areas where’s there public street lighting and would not be appropriate for the Blackhill Road. But if there’s something else we can do we’ll look at that.” 

Cllr Fennelly said that the residents along the road, “probably knew that they wouldn’t get a ramp along it. But if you come in to Tonduff in Abbeyleix off the main Portlaoise Road, this road (Blackhill Road) takes you on back to Rathdowney and Ballacolla. The speed on it is just crazy. Maybe speed radar signs are needed. But the residents along that road are taking their lives in their hands coming out, especially around the bends. It’s next nigh to impossible people trying to get into their houses, because there’s at least 40 car movements along that road per hour along that road. And the speed of them is just crazy.” Supporting cllr Fennelly in his request for traffic calming measures, cllr Barry Walsh said: “It’s an extremely busy road. Speed radar signs and some slow down markings on the road might help.” 

Cllr Fennelly said that extra road markings signs had been provided in the area, “but they’re not taking, the message is not getting through unfortunately. It’s driver behavior.” 

Cathaoirleach of the district council cllr Paddy Buggy said: “I’ve often drove out along that way with a tractor and trailer load of cattle going over to the factory in Rathdowney. It’s a disaster there.”