NIGHTMARE traffic queues and hour-long delays have hit motorists and traders in the first week of new water works in Weymouth.

Temporary traffic lights on Preston Road at the junction with Littlemoor Road at Chalbury Corner have caused queues of vehicles since work started this week.

Drivers have described ‘terrible’ waiting times, particularly at rush hour with queues stretching back along Preston Road towards Greenhill and Osmington.

The four-weeks’ work by Wessex Water is to connect a new water main to the local supply network as part of its £750,000 Littlemoor Road water mains replacement scheme.

Claire Norman, 36, who travelled with her children by bicycle and scooter to avoid the congestion, said: “It’s a nightmare because not only is the traffic all along Littlemoor Road but all along Preston Road as well.

“There are so many delays. If people want to go anywhere they just have join the traffic.

“Obviously the work has to be done but it’s very frustrating.”

Georgette Hopkins-Mears, 61, of Southill, Weymouth, who was delayed by half an hour on Tuesday evening, said the temporary traffic lights were not in sequence with the other traffic lights and so drivers got ‘trapped’ all along Preston Road at both ends.

She added: “Every week there seems to be water works happening. All last year we had a problem and now the beginning of this year too.”

Fiona Penny, of Sunflowers florist in Weymouth town centre, said: “I’ve been held up a few times getting to Osmington to make deliveries.

“It’s obviously worse first thing and at rush hour in the evenings.”

Several traders at Chalbury Corner said the works had hit their businesses.

The worst hit was Chalbury Wine Stores, where assistant manager Mark James said takings were down 30 per cent.

He said: “It’s really affecting us.

“People are not sure how to come in the car park or they don’t want to face the traffic because it’s so bad.

“One customer said at rush hour the queue stretched from St John’s Church on Greenhill to past Osmington.”

Fisherman Jason Hemmings, of Portland Sea Bass Limited, said: “It’s bound to affect passing trade and regular customers. People are going to avoid the works.”

Staff at Rowlands Pharmacy said they continued to be busy despite the works.

Wessex Water spokesman Clare-Marie Dobing said motorists’ complaints and site workers’ observations had prompted the company to introduce manual traffic lights during peak times.

She added: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused when work started on the final section of the essential water main replacement scheme on Monday.

“As soon as we were made aware of the problems steps were taken to alleviate congestion by controlling the traffic lights manually during peak times to include the morning and evening rush hours.

“It is inevitable that replacing a water main along a busy stretch of road will cause a degree of inconvenience, but we will endeavour to complete the work as quickly as possible.”