Frustrated drivers are facing eight set of roadworks across Canterbury as they travel on gridlocked roads.
Fed-up motorists have labelled the number of projects in the city as “insanity”, as congestion leads to an hour-and-a-half tailbacks.
The issue causing the biggest headache for many is a burst water pipe which led to the closure of the A257 Littlebourne Road yesterday.
As well as leaving hundreds of homes without a supply, it has led to vehicles continuing to be directed along Warwick Road and through the Spring Lane estate.
It means journeys of less than one mile are now taking drivers 30 minutes to complete.
The decision by South East Water engineers to dig a hole in the road outside St Martin’s Hill Post Office means it is not expected to reopen until 5pm tomorrow.
However, Canterbury City Council (CCC) member, Alister Brady, says this is likely to be extended while attempts to find the leak are made.
The ward councillor for Chartham and Stone Street says traffic is being compounded by temporary lights being installed in Sturry Road at the junction of New Town Street on the A28.
It has left drivers facing long delays on the stretch while gas company, SGN, carries out repairs ahead of the road’s expected reopening on January 23.
The company though will be installing a different set of two-way lights on the A-road when it carries out maintenance near Vauxhall Road for eight days from tomorrow.
This is alongside a separate set of two-way lights in Broad Oak Road being in force overnight from tonight until Friday.
Cllr Brady, who also represents Canterbury City North on Kent County Council (KCC), said: “Six of the eight [roadworks] are emergency work by utility companies who are legally able to close the road and then inform KCC afterwards.
“The KCC streetworks team has requested updates from the works’ promoters as soon as we receive them.
“The sites are also being inspected by the KCC streetworks inspectors each day to make sure the sites are occupied.”
Dozens of residents though have blasted the decision to have so many happening all at once.
One neighbour said: “Absolute insanity at seven o’clock this morning in terms of traffic. I’ve never known it like this. It’s a 90-minute tailback end-to-end.
Another person added: “We were in city centre at about 11am and the traffic by St George’s roundabout was horrendous.
“Buses are queued up because they couldn’t get into the station – the roundabout by the police station was jammed up and the turning by the bridge was blocked up by traffic.”
Others described the situation as “madness” and something which is creating “chaos” on the roads.
Further closures across Canterbury are currently being caused by temporary lights on the A28 roundabout’s junction with Military Road and temporary lights being installed in St Dunstans Street (A290) for road marking improvements. Both sets of works are due to be completed overnight tonight.
There are also overnight closures in Thaninngton tonight, for planned Openreach works and post replacement works.
KCC has been approached for comment regarding the closures.
The local authority is responsible for the majority of roads across the county.
