DRIVERS were left angry and frustrated at further traffic gridlock around Leamington and Warwick at the weekend.
Many were stuck in long queues following lanes being coned off around the ever busy island at the junction of Myton Road, Princes Drive and Old Warwick Road, and leading to Europa Way and Leamington Shopping Park.
It reduced traffic flow to a single lane creating a bottleneck which led to long queues in all directions.
It related to further work being carried out by Cadent following the gas leak on Princes Drive just before Christmas – which also created major congestion.
But drivers stuck in the jams over the weekend said there was no sign of any actual work taking place.
Stephen Heath, who is demanding an explanation from Warwickshire County Council highways, referred to “this disastrous mess of an excuse for traffic management” after being caught up in jams on three separate days while driving in from Stratford.
He said: “Lanes were gridlocked – being coned off completely on the approach in from the retail park across the canal catching out queue jumping drivers and causing mayhem and frustration pushing already congested traffic into just a single lane on the bridge where a single lane system then remained around the island.
“There was no evidence whatsoever of any upcoming or ongoing works to the carriageway on any junction leading to or around this traffic island or any contractors attending to anything at all. There was no signage informing the general public why the roads were coned off or the need for any lane control/closures. Why?”
A spokesperson for Warwickshire County Council said Cadent had to complete repairs following the leak at Christmas.
They explained: “A gas leak investigation was initially carried out on December 21. After identifying the location of the leak, Cadent Gas carried out the essential repair to the gas main and then, so as to not cause further disruption over the Christmas and New Year period at this very traffic sensitive location, reinstated the excavations to an interim standard.
“This interim standard was potentially vulnerable to failure, particularly given recent weather conditions, however, and needed works to fully reinstate the carriageway as soon as possible given the high level of traffic in that area. This final, full reinstatement occurred on January 7 and 8.”
