Motorists are facing gridlock traffic in and around a busy business estate this morning.

Thousands of drivers heading onto the Medway City Estate have been delayed due to Southern Water repairs to fix a “leaking hydrant” in Sir Thomas Longley Road.

The utilities firm has set up three-way traffic lights near the junction with Trident Close.

There are more than two mile queues stretching back past the Upnor roundabout and the Medway Tunnel towards the Four Elms roundabout.

Some commuters have reported being stuck in the traffic for more than two hours.

Bus services have also been impacted with the 170 service currently delayed in both directions.

Southern Water has permission to work on the road until tomorrow at 11.59pm.

It’s not the first time traffic has been brought grinding to a halt on the busy trading estate which regularly sees around 6,000 people working on-site.

Roadworks are also scheduled by Medway Council to take place up until Friday (October 25) on the A289 Berwick Way, near the entrance to the new Maritime Academy, on the main approach to the city estate.

There are also three-way lights at the other entrance to the trading park, on Commissioners Road, which have been put in place by Openreach for roadworks until the end of the month.

Residents have taken to social media to vent their frustration at the timing of the works.

“The towns are gridlocked as it is without adding poor planning of closures to the mix,” said one person.

Another added: “I don’t understand why they do all the road works at all the same time.”

A spokesman for Southern Water said: “We’re sorry for the disruption this is causing customers, businesses and commuters.

“We are working closely with the local authority’s highways department on traffic management to ensure the work is carried out as safely and quickly as possible.”

It is understood Southern Water is expecting the works to finish tomorrow (Thursday, October 24), subject to no complications in restoring the road surface

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