Motorists have endured a week of “traffic chaos” due to the closure of a road regularly used by shoppers leaving the Asda superstore at Milton of Craigie.
Major resurfacing work on Longtown Road has shut the normally busy thoroughfare at its junctions between Bellisle Drive and Douglas Road.
The works, which began on Monday and is scheduled to last 10 days, mean drivers heading out of Asda’s car park have just one exit point at Kingsway East.
But at periods throughout the day, particular in the rush hour, cars are sitting in long queues, in some cases for over an hour, as traffic on the Kingsway builds up preventing vehicles from getting onto the Milton roundabout.
Angus teacher Joan Wyer (59) was one of the unfortunate motorists stuck in a jam on Thursday afternoon.
She said she was unable to get out of the car park for almost an hour.
“It was very frustrating,” said Mrs Wyer.
“I was panicking because I knew I had other places to be but just couldn’t get out.”‘Something can be done’She added, “In those situations you see drivers doing the most stupid things because they are desperate to leave. Some were mounting their cars onto the pavement just so they could edge forwards.
“You want to be able to let others out but when you are moving you can’t stop. It was chaotic.”
Mrs Wyer called on either the city council or the police to take action.
She said, “I am not wanting miracles but surely something can be done.
“Perhaps temporary traffic lights would ensure everyone got a turn?”
She added, “I really feel sorry for the poor staff members who have to go through that every day.”Multiple calls to policeIt was a similar story for an Arbroath man who got caught up in the jams earlier in the week.
“I was stuck for around three quarters of an hour,” he said.
“It was just absolute gridlock.”
Tayside Police received multiple calls about the traffic problems in the afternoon, including from Tayside Contracts who requested assistance.
But a spokeswoman said they advised the contractors to “reassess” their road closure timings before adding there was not much they could have done.