Plea for speed ramps on road to Rock

SPEED ramps to combat dangerous driving on the road from the N80 to the Rock of Dunamase have been requested by a local councillor.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy described the road as “genuinely dangerous”, as he made the request at the latest meeting of Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District (MD).

The Stradbally councillor recalled that, when he raised the issue a few years ago, he was told that Laois Co Council would assess the road when the new car park at the Rock of Dunamase was being developed.

The construction of a new car park and toilets at the historic site got underway last year, following an archaeological survey.

The development project includes a car park that will include 40 parking spaces, one disabled bay and two parking spaces for buses.

Laois Co Council received funding of €1,797,894 under the EU Just Transition Fund, to construct the new car and bus park adjacent to the Rock of Dunamase.

Designated parking spots, including two disabled parking spaces, will also be located at the Church of Ireland chapel nearby.

Now that the project is nearing completion, Cllr McEvoy asked for safety measures to be installed on the Portlaoise side to Dysart Cross, to facilitate the expected increase in traffic.

He said: "Something needs to be done, because it's a narrow road and people are speeding up and down. It is genuinely dangerous.” 

In a written reply, senior engineer Tom Drennan said that traffic calming ramps were not typically permitted on rural roadways.

However, he added: ‘Notwithstanding that, the area office in conjunction with road design will review the area and will arrange for a technical assessment to be carried out and consider options from there.’