GRIDLOCK caused by roadworks has prompted one driver to label Worcester a “no-go area” for motorists.

Work on the city’s highways and byways, including road resurfacing, sewage works, replacing water mains, repairing roads and faulty manhole covers and patching potholes have led to claims traffic has been “brought to a halt”, according to Colin Randle, from Worcester.

While leaders at Worcestershire County Council’s highways department admit there are more roadworks than usual, they say everything possible has been done to keep disruption to a minimum.

As revealed by your Worcester News, the city council’s annual survey showed traffic is the top gripe for Worcester residents, a problem compounded by the recent ‘dust storm’ caused by roads being re-dressed last month.

This week, from July 1 to 7, there were 21 active roadworks projects in the city alone, , including the closure of Lowesmoor while a gas main is replaced, with 105 countywide.

However, motorists can expect some salvation, as work to replace gas mains in Sansome Street ended on Monday.

Ongoing work includes a new gas connection at New Road, temporary traffic lights at Hylton Road for the new sports arena, temporary traffic lights in Bath Road to repair a defective manhole cover, temporary traffic lights because of sewage works in Worcester Road and temporary traffic lights at Prestwich Avenue for a water mains replacement.

Mr Randle has written to Trish Haines, chief executive of Worcestershire County Council, to complain.

He wrote: “Worcester just seems to be a constant no go area for drivers, with constant roadworks and disruption.

“At the moment, for example, there are works going on in Lowesmoor (which seem to be taking a long time for the size of the job) and now we have more roadworks around the corner on Sansome Street, leading to further chaos.

“Add this to the very recent problems with surface dressing in the city, and it becomes clear that this department are incapable of managing Worcester's road network properly.

“It's as if the highway engineers are deliberately trying to cause chaos and bring Worcester to a halt.”

Worcester City Counillor Paul Denham, who represents Rainbow Hill, said there were relatively few months when roadworks could be carried out because of the weather.

“There is a tendency to squash everything that needs doing into the time when there is better weather which puts increasing pressure on things,” he said.

He said the highways department had to make a choice between short-term roadworks and combining different works “in the same place, at the same time”, which could take longer.

Peter Blake, Worcestershire County Council's head of integrated transport, said: "Worcestershire highways does everything it can to plan and co-ordinate works on the city's roads in order to keep disruption to motorists, residents and businesses to a minimum.

"Utility companies carry out their own works to improve gas, electric and telecommunication systems and the county council, as a highways authority also undertakes works to improve the highway and enhancement projects, such as the one taking place in Lowesmoor.

"The county council holds regular meetings with partners and the utility companies to ensure we co-ordinate our works in the best way possible.

“For example, during recent works on Sansome Street, gas and water companies, as well as our highways team have all been carrying out work at the same time.

"It's been slightly busier than usual in Worcester at the moment and I'd like to thank people for their patience.

“In addition to the planned works, such as this season's surface dressing programme and improvement projects in Lowesmoor, utility companies have had to come in and undertake emergency works at short notice."

Temporary traffic lights planned in Worcester between July 1 and 7:
Newtown Road - for emergency manhole repairs Bromyard Road - for work on traffic signals
Upper Tything - for work on traffic signals
Henwick Road - for tree safety work
Bath Road - for emergency manhole repairs
Hylton Road - for highway improvements
The Foregate - for gas mains replacement
Bromyard Road - to construct new roundabouts and duct crossings
Severn Street - for work on fencing
Prestwich Avenue - for water mains replacement work
Severn Street - for perimeter fencing work
Prestwich Avenue - for work to replace water mains

READER REACTION: Readers on the Worcester News Facebook page on traffic in Worcester

Andrew Robinson wrote: "I suspect a lot of the extra traffic is people trying to save damage to their cars by avoiding the roads ruined by a combination of bad surface dressing and the council's belief that if you don't bother sweeping up excess gravel it will somehow evaporate into thin air harmlessly."

However, Marty C Hickford defended the roadworks, saying: "So, you complain about all the potholes and terrible road conditions, then complain when they're fixing it. What do you want? The sudden, overnight invention and mass rollout of hover cars? Will that finally make you happy?"

Jason Clarke simply posed a question: "Do they have to do it all in one go in Worcester?"

Debi Wainwright said; "Over the past 12 months or so, there has barely been a full week where travelling between Worcester and Droitwich Spa has not involved waiting in - and driving around - roadworks."

Jaki Whyte agreed, saying: "Worcester's roads are a joke. They are always being dug up, with temporary traffic lights here, there and everywhere, adding to the congestion that's already in place."

Ian Waggott said: "To be honest, I think the motorists cause problems themselves as much as the roadworks. Running red lights, then blocking up yellow box junctions so no one can move when the traffic lights turn green for traffic coming the other way.

"One thing people seem to forget is that the road system in Worcester wasn't designed for the traffic of today."

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