Major new Laois effort to show visitors to the majestic Slieve Blooms

More than 200 new road signs are set to be made to bring lots more visitors to Slieve Bloom Mountains and encourage them to stay in the region. 

Nearly a year after starting the process, Laois County Council has issued a tender for the removal of 110 standard signs and 18 posts and the manufacture and installation of 203 traffic and one trailhead sign.   

Although the new signs will be located primarily in the Slieve Blooms, the contract includes nine new motorway signs directing road users to the mountains from locations in Laois and surrounding counties. 

The new signs will indicate the locations of pathways, cycle trails and other visitor attractions in the Slieve Blooms. The work is expected to be completed in time for summer.  

The new signs will see the Slieve Blooms advertised to motorists in neighboring counties as far away as Ballinasloe in Galway, Roscrea in Tipperary and Athlone and Kilbeggan in Westmeath. They will also cover much of Offaly in places like Kilcormac, Birr, Tullamore and in the Slieve Blooms in Kinnitty. The signs in Laois include locations in Mountmellick, Portlaoise and Clonaslee and throughout the Slieve Blooms. 

“Laois County Council (the client) is carrying out a programme of new vehicular wayfinding signs within the Slieve Bloom Mountains and surrounding area. This project is to appoint a manufacturer (contractor) to deliver this signage through manufacture and installation,” the tender states. 

A previous contract inviting companies to design the signs outlined the purpose of the project.

"The aim is to improve visitor’s ability to find key attractions and create a narrative that acts to generate a positive user experience at each attraction," it says.

The council said it wants to enhance the experience of the visitor and encourage visitors and residents to explore. It also hopes to initiative will support tourism through improved visitor experience and therefore "increased dwell time".

The council also said the focus area for this project will be within the confines of the M7, N80, N52 & N62 & to include the main surrounding towns including Portlaoise, Tullamore, Birr and Roscrea also limited to the county boundaries of Laois & Offaly

"Road users should be able to clearly navigate their way from these roads/towns to the visitor attractions across the Slieve Bloom Mountains whilst gaining an understanding of the attractions upon arrival," says the local authority.

The council has invited companies to deliver a "bespoke high-quality signage strategy" which will enhance the visitor experience and improve wayfinding and interpretive signage around Slieve Bloom Mountains in Laois and Offaly.

Pictured above: Examples of the new signs

“The contractor should allow for all signage civil works i.e., foundation details, foundation installation and making good of all surfaces,” the tender states. 

“The new signage has been designed to a design intent level with indicative artwork in line with the TII road traffic sign guidelines. The contractor will be responsible for providing full artwork proofs for each sign and confirming the final specifications and overall dimension at each location,” according to the tender.  

Pictured above: Images of the proposed new signage

“The manufacturer will work with the client’s designers (Placemarque and Tobin Engineers) who will be advising and approving the development of the shop drawings and artwork proofs. The tender is for 203 Standard Road Traffic Signs and one Welcome trailhead sign as well as the removal of 110 signs and 18 redundant posts,” the council stated.

The successful tenderer is expected to be appointed by February 27 this year with all works due to be completed by the end of May 2023.