Snow Ice - Crashes on treacherous Laois roads causes traffic gridlock

There were two crashes reported on the roads in Laois this morning, with roads remaining treacherous across the county and traffic at a crawl on untreated roads.

AA Roadwatch reported both crashes just after 8am this morning. The first was on the N80 road between Portlaoise and Stradbally.

There was significant build up in Portlaoise on the Borris Road which serves two big secondary schools.

Traffic across the county was at a crawl after overnight snows and freezing temperatures, with most rural roads in Laois not gritted by Laois County Council.

#LAOIS There’s been a crash on the N80 Portlaoise/Carlow Rd between Stradbally and Portlaoise. https://t.co/PSzIBsvOzE

— AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) January 17, 2018

The second crash was on the M7 motorway between both Portlaoise junctions.

#LAOIS There’s a crash on the M7 Dublin/Limerick Rd southbound between J17 Portlaoise Centre and J18 Portlaoise West. https://t.co/PSzIBsvOzE

— AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) January 17, 2018

Meanwhile, reports are coming in from people experiencing very slippy conditions on roads and paths around the county.

Just slid from Abbeyleix to Portlaoise at 40km/hr. Very dangerous conditions and no grit @LaoisCouncil

— Michelle Leech (@LeechmMichelle) January 17, 2018

No roads salted around the Portlaoise area this morning, by extension this must be for all of Laois. Take care. @LaoisCouncil

— Donal Miller (@millerdonal) January 17, 2018

All roads in Kilkenny kindly gritted, pass into the Laois border and it’s the Swiss alps- sound. #snowday

— Nora Daly (@NoraDaly5) January 17, 2018

Less than a quarter of the roads network in Laois are treated with salt and grit in icy weather, leaving much of the county's roads a danger for drivers and pedestrians.

Read more: What roads does Laois County Council grit in icy weather?