Carlow Request Army Assistance

Carlow County Council will be calling in the cavalry as they prepare to contact the Defence Forces to get help with transportation.

Director of Services for Transportation with Carlow County Council Dan McInerney said the council had acquired a number of small fertiliser spreader units to spread salt and grit from the back of pick-ups in addition to normal salting and gritting with lorries.

He added that the council planned to use unsalted grit on secondary roads in some cases to preserve stocks of salt.

The council said they had mobilised both civil defence and the fire service, which are helping out with 4-wheel drive vehicles to provide back-up for ambulance services and help to deliver medical attention.

Also today, the council released an update on its major roads, which detailed that only one lane of the M9 motorway bypass of Carlow is open in both directions and that on a number of routes extreme caution was required by everyone who had to drive.

A spokesman for the council said: "The regional and local roads have frozen overnight and driving on these roads is hazardous. Carlow Local Authorities advise all motorists not to make unnecessary journeys, but if you have to drive, give yourself enough time, drive at a reduced speed and at a safe distance from the car in front of you."

(DW/GK)