A dispute over pay has halted work on the final section of the M7 Dublin to Limerick motorway, which was due to open by the end of the month.
Employees of KC Civil Engineering say they have not received their pay cheques for December and are protesting on site and preventing works going ahead.
A spokesman for approximately 40 protesting workers said it is believed that a dispute involving the main contractor is holding up payments.
A conciliation award for additional payments to the main contractor Bowen Somague Joint Venture, reportedly in the region of €20m, is being appealed by the National Roads Authority and Laois County Council.
The NRA says Laois County Council has agreed to pay the main contractor the disputed amount as long as the contractor provides the necessary bond to ensure that the state will receive any monies owed upon outcome of appeal process.
The Castletown to Nenagh section, which links Borris-in-Ossory with Moneygall, Co Offaly, is the final 36km section of the M7.
