Laois town to remain open despite signage blunder

Large digital signs surrounding Rathdowney have incorrectly stated that the town will be closed from Thursday October 3 to Friday October 4.

This information has been found to be incorrect, with roadworks only taking place on a section of Moore street.

These signs were installed by Laois County Council's Road Division, and have since been changed to display the accurate facts.

From Thursday October 3 to Friday October 4, the R-433 outside a housing development on Moore street will undergo works as Irish Water connect the houses to an already existing sewerage line.

Rathdowney's Main street will be inaccessible via Moore street, but will still be open for business, and accessible via Mill street and the square.

Pictured: A section of R-433 on Moore St. where road works will take place on Thursday and Friday.

There was confusion surrounding this information due to ambiguous signage indicating that 'Rathdowney' would be closed, rather than a section of Moore street.

Local County Councillor John King spoke to the Leinster Express/Laois Live to clarify the situation.

"These works will take place outside a small section of houses on Moore street, the information that it will be 100 metres of the street is incorrect," he said.

"The works will begin around 7:30am on Thursday October 4, and there will be no water switched off. The workers are going ten feet deep into the ground to access the pipes, and quick setting concrete will be laid afterwards," Cllr King explained.

"To make sure the concrete dries, this part of Moore street is closed to traffic, but it should be reopened around 3pm on Friday," he said.

"I have contacted the Council's Road Division about the digital signs, and they have since been corrected. I advise people to adhere to diversions in place," Cllr King finished.

Independent Councillor James Kelly also took to social media over the unclear signage.

"The large digital signs have the wrong message, stating that Rathdowney is closed for two days. I have contacted the council re. same. I REPEAT, RATHDOWNEY IS NOT CLOSED," Cllr Kelly's post read.

Construction of these six council houses first began in 2020, after a 20 year wait for more social housing in the town.