Commuters have endured more lengthy delays with the prospect of more to come tonight as they negotiate roadworks on Broughty Ferry’s Dundee Road.
One weary driver described the situation on Wednesday evening as “a nightmare scenario” and said signs gave too little warning of changes to the traffic flow.
The traffic jams are the result of carriageway resurfacing work, which began on Tuesday and is timetabled to last five days. The eastbound carriageway of Dundee Road, commonly used by HGVs as well as regular traffic travelling to Broughty Ferry and beyond, will remain closed for the duration.
In the meantime, traffic is being diverted up Craigie Drive at the Stannergate roundabout and on to Strathern Road, before heading down to Ellieslea Road to rejoin Dundee Road.
One Broughty Ferry man who contacted The Courier said he had left work slightly early to try to escape the worst of the congestion but to no avail.
“The queue for the roundabout at Strips of Craigie Road was almost back to Greendykes Road when I joined it,” he said. “There were signs about the road being closed and the diversion but what didn’t help was that it was only when you got to the roundabout that you realised two lines went down to one so people were trying to push in and getting frustrated.
“Once I got to the roundabout the queue stretched over that, too, but the exit on to Strathern Road is not a great junction because it requires a right turn across two lanes of traffic, so it took everyone ages to get round.”
He said he did not see any signs directing traffic back to Dundee Road once the closed section was passed.
“I turned down myself, because I know the area well, but others were carrying on to Claypotts Road, where many would have to do another right turn, which can take some time at that time of night, so a long tailback was building up on Strathern Road.”
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said the work has been planned on a “phased basis” to help lessen the impact.
“Major stretches of road in the city are involved in this work, and it is carried out as quickly as possible, allowing for weather conditions and other factors,” he said. “We always look at ways of improving traffic management.”
Criticism has been levelled at the council for not providing enough roadside signs warning drivers of possible delays a claim disputed by the spokesman.
“Signage is in place to warn drivers about surface dressing work and diversions, and motorists are asked to follow the advice on the signs. Diversions are also publicised in the lead-up to the work starting,” he said.
Many drivers tried to avoid Dundee Road by seeking an alternative route along the nearby Arbroath Road, which is subject to a 20mph limit.
As a result, lengthy delays soon built up there, too, with the queue stretching back as far as the Dalnacraig playing fields from the Scott Fyffe roundabout.
The temporary speed restriction is required as loose chips are scattered on the road surface and the markings have not yet been replaced since contractors completed resurfacing on the carriageway.
“The markings on the road will be put on as soon as possible once the surface has settled,” added the council spokesman. “The reduced speed limit will be left at the moment for safety reasons.”
Head of road policing in Dundee, Inspector Gordon Taylor, said Tayside Police would continue to monitor the situation.
A spokeswoman said nothing untoward had been brought to the attention of the police, adding, “I think people are just accepting that their journey will be slow and long.”