DRIVERS have complained that roadworks and tree cutting at two key pinch points has brought city traffic to a standstill in recent days.

Worcester News readers have questioned how two-day tree cutting work on the A4440 at Temeside Way, in Powick, which leads to the busy Carrington Bridge and Ketch roundabout, could have been scheduled on Monday and Tuesday, at the same time as flood prevention work continues on New Road, south of Worcester Bridge.

Frustrated motorists say they were delayed as they found both areas were, at certain times, down to just one lane.

Essinay said: “Only the genius of Worcestershire County Council’s transport department could organise this sort of chaos at the same time that additional traffic is using this route to avoid the New Road fiasco.

“If it is necessary why can’t it be done at weekends.”

Kevin Heywood said: “Last week when kids are off, no. The week after when New Road is down to one lane should be good.

“Our planning department is not fit for purpose or anything else.”

Jason Guest said: “Are they for real. Already got one main road artery through the city snarled up, so I’ll tell you what we’ll semi-shut another one.”

On the Monday traffic, Lorretta Owen said: “It took me 40 minutes from Powick to St Peter’s.”

Gareth Sampson added: “Another job that could of been done last week in half-term.

“Bad planning again.”

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: “Western Power needed some trees along A4440 Temeside Way to have their canopy reduced in order to enable essential works to overhead power cables which will form part of Phase 4 of the Southern Link Road project.

“The works needed to be undertaken before the end of February due to bird nesting restrictions.

“The works took place outside of peak traffic hours on Monday and Tuesday, and were completed by 2pm on Tuesday afternoon.”

The work to prevent flooding in New Road began in January.

Workers are raising a 200-metre stretch of the road, as it passes the cricket ground, by about 15 inches in order to construct a box culvert running diagonally across the road. Worcester County Council says the work could continue until mid-May.