PRESS RELEASE – Contract signing for Portlaoise Southern Circular Route
The Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Councillor John King and the Chief Executive of Laois County Council, Mr. John Mulholland signed the Contract for the Portlaoise Southern Circular Road Extension this morning in Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise, Co. Laois in the presence of the Cathaoirleach of Portlaoise Municipal District, Cllr. Catherine Fitzgerald.
The successful tenderer is Total Highway Maintenance Ltd., Killaree, Three Castles, Co. Kilkenny.
The development will comprise of the:
• Construction of 550m of new single carriageway road between the R426 Timahoe and N77 Abbeyleix Roads;
• Extension of the existing link road, currently terminating close to the Aldi Supermarket entrance, to continue to a new roundabout at the junction of this extended link road with the new Portlaoise Southern Circular Road;
• Improvement works to the existing roundabout on the R426 Timahoe Road with the Portlaoise Southern Circular Road and realignment of the R426 Timahoe Road with the construction of a new roundabout at the entrance to the People’s Park;
• Construction of a realigned roundabout on the N77 Abbeyleix Road with Father Browne Avenue to accommodate the extended Portlaoise Southern Circular Road together with minor improvement works locally on both roads.
This development will complete the inner relief road around Portlaoise town connecting the N80 Stradbally Rd. to the N80 Mountmellick Rd. It will improve access to the town Centre and will improve access to the new school campus and O’Moore Park Stadium.
Construction will begin in the next week and will commence on the Timahoe Road to take advantage of the school holiday period. It is anticipate that the works will be completed for Q3 2019.
This is further good news for Portlaoise and comes after recent announcements that US-based cyber security firm Skout Secure Intelligence will create 30 jobs as it opens its European headquarters in Portlaoise and almost 330 jobs are set to be created as Glanbia Cheese is to open a new Manufacturing Plant in Portlaoise on Laois County Council owned lands in Togher National Enterprise Park, Portlaoise.
Back Row (L – R):
Philip McVeigh, Senior Engineer – Roads & Transportation
Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services, Laois County Council
Brian Doherty, Total Highway Maintenance Limited
Seated (L – R):
Councillor Catherine FitzGerald, Cathaoirleach of Portlaoise MD
John Mulholland, Chief Executive, Laois County Council
John King, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council
Damien Lennon, Total Highway Maintenance Ltd.
Morgan Kilgallen, Kilgallen & Partners Consulting Engineers
Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services stated “The signing of the contract for the Completion of the Portlaoise Southern Circular Route earlier today is a significant milestone in the delivery of another critical piece of infrastructure for Portlaoise Town. I acknowledge the support of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport who are funding this project to the sum of circa €7 Million. The completion of this “missing link” of the Southern Circular Route will support the continued enhancement and improvement of Portlaoise town.”