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Why has traffic on Canterbury ring-road been gridlocked and when will electric works end?

14:56, 05 November 2019

updated: 13:44, 06 November 2019

Fuming commuters have been stuck in gridlocked traffic amid electric works in Canterbury city centre.

St Stephen's Road has been part-closed for several days - leaving long queues of traffic backed up around the ring-road during rush-hour.

Traffic at a standstill in Canterbury on Monday night (20924052)
Traffic at a standstill in Canterbury on Monday night (20924052)

The route has been shut to allow UK Power Networks to carry out emergency repairs to an underground cable.

It is closed for westbound traffic between Kingsmead Road and Station Road West, and is expected to remain shut until 7pm on Friday. Traffic diversions are in place.

Speaking last night, commuter Matt Leclere said: "The whole ring road is completely jammed up. Absolute gridlock.

"St Peter's roundabout towards Wincheap was solid on all approaches from the A2 and Westgate.

"St Stephens Road past Kingsmead is the same.

Traffic at a standstill in Canterbury on Monday night (20930289)
Traffic at a standstill in Canterbury on Monday night (20930289)

"There’s electric works on St Stephens Road closing it from St Stephens hill roundabout back to Station Approach Road all week. Why they couldn’t do it in half term I don’t know."

A lorry and a car also crashed at Wincheap roundabout last night, causing further delays.

A UK Power Networks spokesman said: "A partial road closure is needed to carry out the work which started yesterday. We are aiming to complete our repairs as quickly and safely as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused."

KentOnline reported earlier this year how traffic experts admit the ring-road has reached breaking point and must be redesigned in order to avoid further gridlock.

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Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury

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