Opposition is mounting to a route drawn up for an inner relief road for Mountmellick before the final plans even go on display.
Laois County Council's preferred route for the inner relief road, to relieve traffic congestion in the town, will be put on display in mid-November.
The public and affected landowners will have about six weeks to voice their opinions on it. However, following initial consultation with residents, a campaign is under way to have the preferred route changed.
Ms Marie Conlon, secretary of the Irishtown Residents' Association, said leaflets had been distributed to householders and businesses in the town in recent days asking their opinion on whether the council's route or an alternative suggested by residents would be more appropriate.
"We hope to sway the council by public opinion."
She said the residents' association rejected the council's proposed route on safety and other grounds.
The council's plan was to route through traffic past a housing estate, residential exits, business premises and social services, while an alternative proposed by residents would divert through traffic away from built-up areas.
She also said the council's plan was "a stopgap measure" which "may be obsolete before completion" because it did not make provision for further traffic increases.
In addition, the council's plan would result in part of the inner relief road running alongside the town's river, damaging its amenity value, she said.
The river could be saved for sensitive development and the whole area protected for recreational activity if the road passed over the river on the outskirts of the town, as set out in the proposed alternative route.
Mr Michael O'Hora, senior executive engineer with Laois County Council, said an inner relief road for the town had been under consideration since 1991.
"It's extremely important for Mountmellick. It's basically to relieve the town of its congestion and to open up land for development."
He confirmed maps of the council's preferred route would be displayed by mid-November and submissions from the public invited.
"We will take them on board before putting a final route to the National Roads Authority for approval," he said.