Traffic delays in Weymouth due to crash and roadworks

Drivers in the Littlemoor and Broadwey/Upwey areas yesterday were mainly affected as well as those trying to get to Dorchester in the morning rush-hour.

The gridlocked traffic was the combination of a perfect storm - created by a crashed campervan on the A354 at Monkton Hill towards Dorchester, temporary traffic lights on Littlemoor Road where a gas leak is being repaired and the closure of a road through Upwey for sewer repairs.

On top of this, Coombe Valley Road at Preston - an alternative route out of town - also remained officially closed yesterday due to concerns about falling trees - however some drivers were seen continuing to use this route. Road closure signs have since been moved to the side of the road.

One driver said she had 'never seen it so bad' as traffic backed up in the Littlemoor and Upwey areas and motorists tried to find alternative routes.

"It felt like there was no way out," said the woman, who was attempting to drive to Dorchester to drop her children off at school.

Dorset Council described the heavy traffic on Tuesday morning as 'multiple events conspiring to cause very long delays’.

Acampervan onthe side of the road caused traffic to slow to a crawl (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

The overturned campervan on the verge of the Weymouth Relief Road at Monkton Hill, on the northbound side, slowed traffic to a crawl and resulted in delays of around 20 minutes.

Although the vehicle was off the road, following a crash on Monday evening, it still caused a huge amount of disruption for those travelling to Dorchester.

At one point traffic was backed up all the way to the Jurassic Roundabout at Littlemoor and beyond towards Morrisons.

Littlemoor Road was also gridlocked due to the temporary traffic lights in place as emergency repairs continue by SGN to fix a gas leak.

Temporary traffic lights on Littlemoor Road (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

READ: Repair of gas leak on Littlemoor Road to take two more weeks

The temporary lights have already caused significant disruption to the area between Turnstone Close and Louviers Road - and will remain in place until January 19.

To make matters worse, planned work by Wessex Water to renovate the sewer system on Church Street, in Upwey, exacerbated the problem, as road users struggled to find a way out of Weymouth towards Dorchester.

The project involves an investment of nearly £400,000 to reline sewers in the Upwey and Broadwey areas.

This is designed to help protect the environment and alleviate flooding by sealing the system to keep groundwater out. 

Work on the sewer system in Upwey has forced Church street to close (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

READ: Weymouth residents’ fears over raw sewage discharge

There has been a persistent problem with raw sewage spilling onto Church Street and Watery Lane, and these works should help alleviate the issue.

Upwey resident Marco Rossi said: "It needs to be done because whenever it rains the drains overflow, it is very unpleasant. I am glad to see it is being done. It is all clearly signposted."

Another Upwey resident said: "It is necessary work and I am willing to put up with the disruption.

"People use this as a shortcut when there are issues elsewhere but what's the alternative?

"When you get heavy rain you get the water coming off the hills and it can't keep up. Hopefully what they are doing will get somewhere to stop or reduce the issues."

The closure of Church Street will remain in place until February 2, meaning that any crashes or delays along the Weymouth Relief Road are likely to cause serious disruption for those travelling to and from Dorchester over the next few weeks - particularly during rush hour.