Second lane closure on busy route

Traffic has been reduced to a single carriageway causing congestion

Delays on a busy commuter route west of Gloucester are expected to worsen as roadworks are extended this week.

The A40 between Highnam and Over is being resurfaced and improvements are to be made to drainage and lighting.

The �10m programme began last month with the closure of one lane westbound. On Monday, another lane was closed and contraflow put into place.

The Highways Agency is encouraging commuters to consider car-sharing or working from home.

Commuter Jason Lamb, who used his motorbike to travel on the A40 this morning said: "It's nose to tail traffic, people turning round, people on their phones and they look really desperate. It's just a nightmare."

Haze Reid, who works from home said: "You haven't got the travelling time. Obviously with fuel prices as they currently are, you're saving on fuel. There are environmental benefits too - one less car on the road."

Businesses are claiming that they have been badly affected by the roadworks. The Over Farm market says that trade has dropped for them by 50 percent since the weekend.

Rob Keene of Over Farm said: "It's right in the middle of our strawberry season, we should be getting lots and lots of customers. We've advertised but nobody can get here. We've got masses of fruit on the bushes just sat there."

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