SOUTHAMPTON residents have had their say on what they think will solve Southampton's travel misery.

Motorists in the city have been faced with traffic chaos during the last few weeks due to roadworks and congestion.

Works are being carried out on Redbridge Causeway, Bitterne Road West, Burgess Road, and the Thomas Lewis Way crossroads simultaneously, causing long delays during rush-hour and at weekends.

Some have faced delays of up to 40 minutes with queues seen heading back towards Nursling on the M271 due to the Redbridge works and on Saturday, drivers using The Avenue were left queuing for 30 minutes.

Our readers have had their say on what they believe to be the solution, and have shared their thoughts about the city's traffic woes.

READ MORE: Southampton traffic: Is the city among the worst in UK for congestion

William Hoof Roberts said: "Southampton reminds me of Cambridge, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Chelmsford in that the main problem is the city centre is a few miles in from the perimeter main road, thus the few arteries fill up quickly."

Mike McNamara said the city has "too many" traffic lights, bus lanes, and cycle lanes, with Margaret Westwood adding that the traffic "puts her off" visiting the city.

Kerry Foster said: "It's awful, everywhere is roadworks and appalling road surfaces. Traffic lights everywhere as well."

However, Wolfgang StJohn suggested that there are "too many cars" on the roads.

Carole Tack said: "It's crazy to think it's probably the only town or city in the UK without Park and Ride."

Cabinet member for transport at Southampton City Council, Cllr Eamonn Keogh, said that they are working with the football club and port bosses to find a solution.

READ MORE: Costco Southampton: Traffic problems will be monitored

He said: "We need to recognise that we are recovering from the Covid pandemic so we are seeing an increase in traffic.

"We're also seeing what we saw pre-Covid, the key [issues] being when Saints play at home, the cruise business, and our retail offer.

"With the football, we are working with the football club to try and offer alternatives. This is why the football club now have the Park and Ride at Ageas Bowl.

"This week, we are also going to have the opening of the Adanac Park park and ride, that is 1,000 spaces for the hospital. This means that rather than staff parking in and around the hospital, they now have access to this park and ride."

He added that the council is working with ABP to find a way of reducing the amount of vehicles in the city.

But deputy-leader of the Conservative's, Cllr Jeremy Moulton said: "The long term solution has to be a mass transit system. Southampton is set to grow by a quarter over the next 20 years.

"The only sustainable solution is therefore mass transit and easiest way is to make better use of our local rail network with frequent local rail services from our 8 city stations.

"The biggest short term difference would be to have a cruise passenger park and ride on the edge of the city. In the meantime the council should avoid making the situation worse by shutting off roads and causing congestion."

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