Serious safety concern exiting housing estate in Portlaoise

CARS and buses exiting from the Forest Park housing estate in Portlaoise towards the town direction must cross the middle of the road to do so and is a serious safety concern, according to a local councillor.

Cllr Marie Tuohy raised the matter at the November meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District where she called on the council to review the situation in the area.

She said there had been similar issues of concern raised following the upgrading of the Abbeyleix Road where vehicles were experiencing serious difficulties entering and exiting the housing estates and business along that road.

She said the issue at Forest Park is with cars coming from the estate, buses going into the crèche and school buses dropping children off in the mornings and evenings.

She said: “To make the swing to turn back towards the town cars can’t make it without crossing over onto the middle of the road. The curve seems to be out a bit too far.” 

Cllr Tuohy suggested that scaling back the curve might resolve the issue.

The council’s senior executive officer Wes Wilkinson said that he would examine the location with cllr Tuohy to access what could be done.