MOTORISTS in Wellington were facing up to nine days of traffic chaos in the town centre after a sewage pipe burst on Wednesday (January 21) and flooded the basement of a house.

But Wessex Water, which closed North Street to allow emergency repairs to start, said it hoped to complete the work more quickly.

The town was gridlocked on Wednesday evening with the cumulative effect of Somerset Council shutting the B3187 access to Chelston roundabout while resurfacing work went ahead.

Traffic backed up into the town, with vehicles unable to exit Longforth Road and causing tailbacks through Victoria Street to Waterloo Road.

Drivers who tried circumnavigating the blockage by using Tonedale and Burchills Hill to travel via Rockwell Green found they were no better off because many others also had the same idea and the narrow road became blocked with vehicles unable to pass each other.

One man who works in the town centre said he did not reach home on the Burrough Way estate until about 6.30 pm.

The drama began late afternoon on Wednesday when residents of a house in North Street, close to the town’s police station, discovered a sewage pipe had leaked into their cellar.

The family had to be evacuated overnight as Wessex Water engineers moved in to begin urgent works and closed the road in both difrections.

On Thursday morning morning, the engineers tried to reopen North Street under temporary two-way traffic lights.

But inconsiderate car parking close to the lights also resulted in traffic jams and one minor crash, so the full closure was reimposed.

It added to a week of frustration for motorists after heavy rain during Tuesday saw flooding on many roads by the evening rush hour, including the A38 near Willowbrook Garden Centre and Sheppy’s cider farm.

Hemyock, Cotford St Luke, and West Buckland were also badly affected.