DAMAGE to a collapsed utility cover on a major Dorset road caused traffic chaos over the past two days.

Temporary traffic lights were put in place on Tuesday over a section of about 50m on the A354 between Dorchester and Weymouth.

Dorset Echo: Temporary traffic lights were put in place on the A354Temporary traffic lights were put in place on the A354 (Image: Newsquest)

The works left a section of the road closed and led to huge tailbacks on the Ridgeway in both directions.

Drivers travelling from Weymouth to Dorchester faced the biggest delays, with drivers reporting journeys between the two towns taking up to 90 minutes in some cases.

Motorists trying to avoid the ridgeway also caused traffic build-ups through Martinstown and Littlemoor.

The damaged utility cover is owned by Openreach, who sent contractors out to the site to try and fix the problem.

Bus routes also faced "severe delays", as the number ten route between Weymouth and Dorchester was delayed for up to 40 minutes.

One motorist said: " "It looks horrendous going from Weymouth to Dorchester.

"I saw cars turning around in the middle of the road to go back the other way.

"I saw a truck and two workmen standing around a manhole cover which looks like it has caved in.

"There looks like a lot of dangerous drivers doing U-turns at the Upwey turn-off."

Emma Hallett from Weymouth said she was driving to work and it took her 90 minutes to get from Weymouth to Dorchester.

She said: "I was travelling from Westham area to work in Dorchester and went via the main Ridgeway route. I left at 7.45am and arrived at work at 9.15am.

"There were traffic lights on the Ridgeway but there was no warning signs of any work being undertaken."

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “Late yesterday we were made aware of delays and disruption due to a collapsed utility cover and frame on the A354 Monkton Hill.

"Openreach and their contractors responded to site to make the situation safe and install traffic management. Temporary signals are in operation.

"Openreach will be manually controlling the signals from midday today to keep traffic flowing. It is hoped Openreach can complete the repairs as quickly as possible."