The closure of a major city route continues, despite hopes it would reopen this week after nearly a fortnight of traffic chaos, and a gas company vowing to work extended hours.

The A28 Wincheap in Canterbury was closed by firm SGN on Tuesday, October, 24 to repair a damaged network, with a spokesman saying last week they hoped to reopen it today, and hours had been increased from 7.30am until 11pm.

But as the gridlock continues, residents have questioned whether SGN employees have been working round-the-clock, with pictures shared at the end of last week, showing no workers in sight at 7.30pm.

Alongside snaps of the deserted road, posted on Facebook, Ian Johnson wrote: “Well SGN must have some amazing workers working these extended hours of 7.30am to 11.00pm. Wincheap road works are a ghost town, not a worker in sight at 7.30pm.”

This has sparked concerns among residents wondering when the work will be completed.

“It's not urgent... Only a main route into Canterbury,” one person commented.

But, spokesperson for the company Bradley Barlow, said there are several reasons why staff may need to leave the site, but they are still working.

“To maintain gas supplies while working on this gas main there are jobs that require the engineers to leave site; they could be testing pressures on local governors around the area, collecting materials from local storage, carrying out mandatory health and safety paperwork in their van, need network access, or the road could be being reinstated and they are waiting for the concrete to cure,” he said.

“Please be assured we’re working as quickly as we can to complete this work.”

He also confirmed, work is still scheduled to be completed by the end of Wednesday, November 8.

Last week, residents told of how the major route’s closure was causing “absolute carnage” with an ambulance among the vehicles stuck in standstill traffic.

Side roads have become gridlocked as motorists try to find a way in and out of Canterbury.

In a statement last week, Mr Barlow said the company was carrying out emergency repairs to the network.

They went on: “Due to operational difficulties, including the size and number of excavations required, we temporarily closed Wincheap both ways for everyone’s safety.

“Significant signed diversion routes are in place for motorists and we would advise motorists to avoid travelling if possible, or leave extra time for their journey.

“We have also temporarily closed Simmonds Road, Gordon Road and Tudor Road at their junctions with Wincheap.

“To complete our work as quickly as possible, we’ll continue to work extended hours every day from 7.30am to 11pm.

“We are sorry for any disruption our work may be causing to the local community and would like to thank them for their patience while we complete these urgent repairs.”

The work is being carried out at the junction with Simmonds Road, which has been closed at its junction with the A28.