Motorists travelling on one of the country's busiest roads were gridlocked in Co Kildare yesterday due to road works that have prompted one local business to close down.
The laying of new sewerage pipes by Kildare County Council at Monasterevin has reduced traffic to a single lane on the N7, which links Dublin to Portlaoise, Limerick and Cork.
Hundreds of cars, including many travelling to a special conferring ceremony at the Garda Training College in Co Tipperary, were delayed by up to 1½ hours passing through the town where temporary traffic lights are in operation.
The owner of a local service station said the congestion was so bad he had been forced to close his business for the three-week duration of the works.
Mr Fergus Byrne, of Discount Fuels, whose garage is located opposite the main works area, said: "Customers can't pull in or out. So volume has dropped way back. I'll lose more than €3,000 a week while I'm closed but I've no choice. The sales wouldn't pay the ESB, nor half the wages."
While he acknowledged the sewerage works were necessary for the town, he asked why they couldn't take place at night or during off-peak hours.
"We did not get any written notification of when they were starting or finishing. They just seem to do their own thing. It's crazy. Even with no hold-ups this road is really busy."
A spokeswoman for AA Roadwatch said the congestion seemed to have been exacerbated by motorists ignoring diversions which had been put in place.
"People are chancing it by going through the town, and hoping for the best. But they'd be better to follow the signs and avoid Monasterevin completely," she said.
Northbound traffic is being diverted at Emo through Portarlington, Rathangan and Naas. A further diversion at Abbeyleix is directing traffic through Stradbally, Athy and Kilcullen.
The roadworks are due to be completed by the end of the month. No one was available yesterday at Kildare County Council for comment.
Among those held up in the traffic yesterday were several graduates of the Garda College who were late arriving for the conferring ceremony at Templemore.
Some 520 students received the National Diploma in Police Studies, with a student of the year award going to Garda Sinead Moran, Roscommon, who is stationed at Blackrock Garda station, Cork.
A further award, the Gradam Fhoras na Gaeilge Award for the most outstanding student in the Irish language went to Garda Victor Isdell, Wexford, who is attached to Kilkenny Garda station.
