Portsmouth drivers face fortnight of chaos on the roads
Drivers in Portsmouth could face up to two weeks of traffic chaos while work is carried out to fix a gas leak on a busy road.
Mile End Road is down to just two lanes, causing long traffic jams into the city centre during morning rush hour.
Southern Gas Networks, which is carrying out the work, warned it could take up to a fortnight to fix the problem.
Engineers say there is a small gas leak at the site – which they stress is not a danger to the public.
But they are now trying to locate the exact spot of the leak and its cause.
In the meantime commuters face lengthy journeys getting to work.
Portsmouth Traffic Watch described the traffic jams yesterday morning as 'a nightmare'.
They said the situation was not helped when engineers began work an hour and a half earlier than scheduled.
Today, the roadworks have affected the M275 but haven't caused any traffic problems on the motorway or the A27.
And during rush hour last night, there were queues stretching back to the A27 in one direction and the M27 in the other.
Simon Moon, traffic, safety and sustainable transport manager for Portsmotuh City Council Council, said: 'It wasn't as busy today as yesterday and that's probably because the messages are getting across and people are aware that work is taking place and they are alternating their travel plans to affect that by coming in earlier or using public transport.
'We've asked Southern Gas Networks to work as quickly as possible throughout the day and night and hoping they will get the work completed as soon as possible.'
Duncan McDonald, a spokesman for Southern Gas Networks, said: 'It's expected to be sorted out within two weeks.
'We have been monitoring the leak for the past week or so and we're working with the council to resolve the problem.'
PREVIOUS PROBLEMS
A gas leak caused chaos on the city centre roads in June 2007 when BT contractors drilled through a major gas main.
The gas leak, which forced the closure of Hope Street, saw motorists switch off their engines and get out of their cars due to the traffic jams.
Hundreds of people were also left stranded after buses were cut off from Commercial Road North.
It cut off one of the main routes out of the city so motorists were unable to access the M275, M27 and A3.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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