Icy Laois roads prompt emergency gritting measures

With arctic weather set to last for Laois all week, Laois County Council has put its roads crews on emergency road treatment duty.
Director of Services for Roads Simon Walton confirmed the action, at Monday's council meeting.

“We operate seven routes covering 480km, using 44 tonnes of salt for each run, costing €5,500 to €6,000.

“On the last three nights we deployed two runs on Sunday night, one on Saturday and one on Friday.

“We reallocate other roads crews and obviously that will happen over the coming days to schools and events, we will do that.

“Given the low temperatures expected to stay until Friday, we will be redirecting roads staff to emergency response over the coming days,” he said.

“We have one extra truck available to provide additional needs but we need it as a spare in case something happens one of the seven,” he said.

The council was criticised by councillors at the meeting, for not salting roads to rural schools that are still open for classes this week.

Cllr John King had complained that there seemed to be no lorry free in the Rathdowney area. Cllr John Joe Fennelly said that the Rushin Road in Mountrath leads to Paddock NS and should be salted.

Cllr Conor Bergin said parents of children at Killeshin NS want salting.

“Cars were skidding all over the road I was told,” he said.

Cllr Willie Aird has also requested salting on the hill down into Raheen village leading to a new pedestrian crossing to Tobar an Léinn NS, in a motion to Portlaoise Municipal District (link below to full story).

Status Orange freezing fog warning in place today (Dec 12) across Ireland

Icy roads to Laois primary schools urged to be salted by council

Laois winter gritting maps published

Mr Walton had said a salt store can be left in Raheen for locals to spread. He said that no extra routes can be added to those already set for Laois, as agreed with the Dept of Transport, without removing one of the existing routes.

Almost 20% of Laois roads are salted, with a map on the council's website.

Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange warning for freezing fog until Thursday, and a Status Yellow Ice warning up to Friday.