The Laois Crisis Management Team – which comprises the County Council, An Garda Siochana and the HSE – have issued an update on the state of the roads in the county – while also strongly advising people to remain indoors tonight.
“Fire crews and Garda units have assessed the condition of the priority routes in the county and the majority are deemed passable with care at this time,” they said in a statement this evening.
The roads that they describe as passable with care are:
- M7 (Motorway)
- N80 (Portlaoise to Tullamore)
- N78 (Athy to Kilkenny, via Ballylinan and Castlecomer)
- N77 (between Durrow and Portlaoise)
- R445 (the old N7 Dublin to Limerick road)
- R427 (Between Stradbally and the R417 (Monasterevin to Athy) via Vicarstown)
- R430 (Killeshin to Mountrath)
- R433 (Abbeyleix to Templemore, Tipperary, via Ballacolla, Rathdowney and Errill0
- R435 (Borris-in-Ossory to Johnstown, Kilkenny)
- R434 (Borris-in-Ossory to Durrow)
- R639 (Old N8, from Durrow heading south)
- R427 (Stradbally to Cashel)
- R440 (Mountrath to Birr)
- R422 (Clonaslee to Emo, via Rosenallis and Mountmellick)
- R420 (Moate, Westmeath, via Clara, Tullamore and Portarlington to Monasterevin)
- R419 (Portlaoise to Portarlington)
- R423 (Mountmellick to Portarlington)
- R426 (Swan to Portlaoise via Timahoe)
- R425 (Cashel to Sheffield Cross)
Roads that are blocked
- The regional routes between Mountmellick and Ballyfin (R423) and the R427 at Vicarstown remains blocked at this time. This is subject to change through the night.
“Council road crews will be mobilised from first light tomorrow to remove debris and to clear any routes that remain blocked,” continues the statement.
“Until that time the Crisis Management Team are advising that all unnecessary travel should be avoided as conditions are still hazardous.
“The Crisis Management Team would like to acknowledge and thank the public for their on-going co-operation.
“The local number for the Severe Weather Communication Centre is 1890837273 and this will be staffed to 9pm tonight and from 7am Tuesday, October 17.
“Please be advised if you require the assistance of the emergency services please dial 999 or 112.”
SEE ALSO – The schools are closed again on Tuesday as Storm Ophelia’s impact continues to be felt
