Severe traffic jams on Bridge Road Impington could continue until 10 February due to planned ‘Utility Repair and Maintenance Works’ by UK Power Networks.
The main road over the bridge by the football ground is down to a single lane and three-way temporary traffic lights are in place at the junction of the B1049 with New Road.
The works are causing huge tailbacks and anger among local residents reporting severe delays in both directions.
Google Maps is proposing diversions down Station Road and Impington Lane to avoid the lights and the jams.
Residents’ anger
When the works were set up, some residents took to social media to try to warn others of the “chaos”. One reported that setting up the lane closure began at 7.30am on Wednesday 5 Feb. Another commented “by 9am [I] couldn’t get out from dropping daughter off at IVC so ended up turning around and going toward Milton P&R to access the A14”
The problems continued much later in the day, with a report of traffic backing up to the Holiday Inn at 4.45pm and another resident commenting that “the whole system failed as we approached them at about 7.30pm!”
A cyclist passing the queues during the morning rush hour on Thursday 6 February said: “The road into Cambridge is backed up a very long way. I can’t imagine how any motorist is going to get to work on time.”
UK Power Networks have apologised for the inconvenience caused by the roadworks, recognising that “this is a busy area”. They explained: “Our engineers have repaired an underground electricity cable, so traffic lights are being used for everyone’s safety until our contractors finish resurfacing the road.
“The site is due to be cleared by 10 February, but this will be done sooner if at all possible.”