Signage needed at Portarlington junction crossing
The new crossing at the Lea Road junction is uncontrolled
SAFETY fears have been prompted after a new crossing was introduced at the Lea Road junction on Canal Road, Portarlington.
The new crossing at the junction is uncontrolled, meaning there are no traffic lights or flashing amber orbs to guide pedestrians as to when they have the right of way and when drivers do.
Independent councillor Aidan Mullins, at the latest meeting of Portarlington municipal district, urged Laois Co Council to review pedestrian safety at the junction of Lea Road and Canal Road after he had heard from many local pedestrians that they were unsure how to negotiate the new crossing.
Discussing the motion with his fellow councillors, Cllr Mullins said: "The problem we have in this is that pedestrians, they don't understand that when you come to this raised crossing that they don't have priority. It sort of looks like a pedestrian crossing, but the traffic has priority as you've said and it's a lack of awareness on behalf of pedestrians who would think they have priority and go to cross there, but the traffic doesn't stop."
The councillor asked if there could be some form of warning or signage put up ahead of the crossing for pedestrians unfamiliar with the concept of an unguarded sign, advising them to ‘Beware’ or ‘Wait for Traffic to Clear’ or something to that effect.
In response, the area office said it would certainly look into finding appropriate signage to convey the councillor's point to the public, but also cautioned that they weren't aware of any existing signage that warned precisely about unguarded crossings, saying that it would most likely be the case that local drivers and pedestrians would simply ‘get used’ to the changes in the coming weeks and months.
