Huge tailbacks for commuters on Northam Bridge

The works to replace a gas main and mend kerbs and pavements wreaked havoc in the morning rush hour leaving motorists stuck in queues for up to an hour along Bitterne Road West and Maybray King Way.

Southern Gas and Southampton City Council blamed each other for the hold-ups.

Southern Gas has had a lane closure in place on Northam Road between its junction with Britannia Road and Union Road for the past five weeks. There has also been a lane closure on Britannia Rd at its junction with Northam Road.

But the council said it the gas firm should have finished its work last week ahead of its own pavement and kerb works, which if delayed risked causing a backlog which would impact other big schemes in the city.

A Southern Gas spokesman hit back saying: “We’re really disappointed because we were working in close conjunction with the council in several areas of the city to minimise disruption.

“It’s a shame they’re saying it’s our fault. There are aware of what we are doing. We’re not overrunning any schedule. It’s a live notice. It’s an ongoing process.”

The Southern Gas spokesman added the council works covered a stretch of road times longer than its gas repairs.

He said: “They have brought along their own traffic management system. Our works haven’t changed at all. Our work is still the same however Southampton City Council have arrived on the scene to do their works.

“Our work was co-ordinated to be done at the same time. We haven’t had any complaints.”

A council spokesman said “amended traffic management arrangements” caused this morning’s problems.

“The reason for the hold ups was because the way we were moving traffic, around pinch points in the road, meant there was much less traffic capacity at the lights, which meant that not as much traffic could get through.

“However we are monitoring the situation and we are working with the gas board to see if we can improve traffic for the remaining time they will be there.

“It is also important to note that on the first day of traffic management alterations there is usually more traffic and more queuing. By the second day many motorists avoid the route and the traffic situation is normally much better.”

The works are due to last another eight weeks.