UPDATE: Laois M7 motorway now reopened following multi vehicle crash near Portlaoise in Laois
UPDATE: M7 motorway had been closed westbound between Ballybrittas and Portlaoise following serious crash
UPDATE: The M7 motorway has now been reopened westbound between the J15 Ballybrittas/Mountmellick turn and J16 Portlaoise East junction, following a serious multi vehicle collision.
This Tuesday evening after 5pm, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) report that the road has now been cleared folllowing the collision.
It followed the closure in the previous hour of the section of the M7, which was attended by the emergency services.
It is unknown if anyone was injured in the crashes.
The closure was between J15 Ballybrittas and J16 Portlaoise (East) (3 kilometres east of the Portlaoise area) with all lanes affected.
It is one of three serious road incidents to take place all on the M7/N7 near Portlaoise on Tuesday afternoon, July 14.
It follows another collision nearby and a car that went on fire, all in separately reported incidents around the same time.
A vehicle went on fire on the M7/N7 eastbound between J17 (N77) Portlaoise (Centre) and J16 Portlaoise (East) near Portlaoise.
Drivers were advised just before 4pm that “delays to your journey will occur. Consider a different journey start time or route. When approaching the hazard area drive with caution and reduce your speed”.
Another vehicle collision took place between J17 (N77) Portlaoise (Centre) and J16 Portlaoise (East) (1 kilometre west of the Portlaoise area).
Again drivers were warned that delays to journeys will occur.
“Consider a different journey route or start time. When approaching the collision location, drive with caution, reduce your speed and obey instructions from emergency services.”
Meanwhile a bush fire was reported at about 4.20pm on the N80 road between Portlaoise and Stradbally, with confirmation sought on that from Laois County Fire & Rescue Service.