DROITWICH drivers have criticised Worcestershire County Council Highways, claiming several sets of roadworks all being done in the same week had created widespread gridlock in the town.
The works began on Monday and are scheduled to finish at 4.45pm tomorrow (Friday).
On Hanbury Street and Queen Street, there have been multiple traffic lights in place, while highways maintenance has been carried out.
The Holloway has also been shut with access to frontages only.
Highway works have also been carried out on George Street.
Picture by Marcus Mingins 0723004MMR2 copyright Bullivant Media
Although there have been diversions in place, motorists say the works have had a knock-on effect and led to congestion building up in surrounding roads, including on the Saltway, Worcester Road, Lyttleton Road and Tagwell Road.
Drivers have also questioned why the works were planned for this week when next week is half-term when the children would be off school, along with some of the parents too.
Traffic levels are always notably lower and less busy during the school holidays.
One driver said: “I was stuck on the Hanbury Road trying to get to Primsland way for a good ten to 15 minutes.
“That may not seem like a lot but makes a big difference in the morning rush hour when you need to get children to school and then go on to work.
“Coming back it was also gridlocked turning right onto Worcester Road and I had to take a detour and even then I ran into more traffic.
“In the end, I had to go quite a bit out of my way to get to where I wanted to go.
“By the time the traffic lights had changed and then changed back, only a couple of cars had got through each time.
“Why these works could not have been done next week is beyond me.”
Picture by Marcus Mingins 0723004MMR1 copyright Bullivant Media
A spokesperson from Worcestershire County Council said: “The county council always seeks to plan and manage roadworks to minimise delays to the travelling public and the most disruptive works are generally planned during school holidays where traffic is reduced.
“It is not always possible however to schedule all activities within school holidays and some of the current works in Droitwich include essential schemes to reduce flood risk which need to be completed at the earliest opportunity.”
What do you think? Have you been caught up in the roadworks? Have your journeys taken longer than they usually do? Email us at [email protected] with your views.
