Misery for drivers as city roadworks cause huge jams (From Worcester News)

Misery for drivers as city roadworks cause huge jams

9:54am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Catherine Phillips, Reporter

GRIDLOCKED: The roadworks at the junction of Barbourne Road and Sunnyside Road in Worcester (44166403)

THESE are the temporary traffic lights that are causing gridlock for drivers in Worcester.

Traffic has been brought to a standstill during rush hour this week because of the temporary lights in Barbourne.

Motorists who had hoped the half-term would ease congestion were instead stuck in queues that tailed back from Barbourne Road to St John’s.

Some reported it taking more than an hour to get from the west of Worcester to Northwick, while others were stuck in tailbacks on other city routes as motorists looked for alternative ways home.

Roadworks carried out by Severn Trent Water opposite Gheluvelt Park at the junction with Sunnyside Road have been causing the tailbacks since Monday. The traffic chaos is expected to continue until Friday when work is due to finish at the site.

Worcestershire County Council said it expected traffic contol to be in place today, but only outside peak hours.

Carpenter Calum McKay reported that it took him one hour and 25 minutes to get from Croft Road near the Hive to his home in Tower Road on Tuesday evening.

He said: “It was absolutely atrocious. I’m working in Malvern at the moment and got up extra early on Wednesday morning to try and get there on time – but I was still late”

A spokeswoman for Severn Trent apologised for the delays. She said: “The reason we chose to do the work now was because it is half term when traffic levels tend to be lower.

“We would like to thank motorists for their patience and ask people to allow a bit more time for journeys to the city centre.”

Her comments echoed those from Worcestershire County Council, which warned people who use buses that there was severe disruption on eight routes, mainly travelling across the north of the city.

Jon Fraser, county council highways manager, said they were doing everything possible to minimise disruption. “We have liased with Severn Trent to place more of their people on site,” he added.