TROWBRIDGE was hit by rush hour traffic chaos this week as the closure of the A361 on one side of town brought commuters to a standstill as they struggled to find an alternative route not choked by queueing cars.

The one-mile stretch of road between Hilperton and Semington was closed to all traffic from 7am-7pm from Monday for resurfacing, after Wiltshire Council received numerous complaints about the road surface.

It was due to reopen to traffic at 3pm yesterday, after the Wiltshire Times had gone to press, with the council denying that the planned five-day closure had been cut back because of public pressure, saying only that work had been completed ahead of schedule.

On all four mornings this week commuter traffic gridlocked the town, with long queues reported on diversion routes, particularly through Staverton and at Yarnbrook crossroads. Hundreds of people took to social media to vent their anger at the closure and what they claimed was poor signage of the diversions.

Wiltshire Council apologised to drivers for the severe delays, saying: “Due to some of the major reconstruction work needed here, it wasn’t possible to reopen the road once the work for the day was complete.

“Working during the day meant the work could be completed more quickly as the crews are able to work longer hours and materials could be delivered more easily.

“We have reopened the road during the week when we have been able.”

The closure, which provoked anger among local businesses when it was first announced, brought chaos for people living in the area, according landlord Mick Mullins, who runs the Somerset Arms in Semington.

He said: “The way they closed the road, you couldn’t get into Semington at all. We’ve been dead with hardly any customers. It should have been an overnight job. There are a lot of people in Hilperton and Staverton who have children who go to school in Semington and they weren’t able to get through on time for the school run.

“As a business, we still have to pay our rates but there isn’t going to be any compensation for the loss of trade.”

Wiltshire Council said the work was carried out in the day because it was a major project, which included repairing the sub-structure of the road, and denied claims it was a cost-cutting measure.

Paxcroft Café owner Rachel Allen had to close her business and take a holiday during the works.

She said: “They said I could have opened but if someone wanted to get to the café they would have to wait so the workers could move machinery before they could drive on it. No one is going to do that are they?

“It will be interesting to see whether it has been worth the hassle.

"The last time I drove down the road, it was lethal for cyclists, so as long as it is in a good state for them and drivers I think it will be a good job done.

“We’ve said We are hoping to reopen on Tuesday and now the road is finished we can put it all behind us.”

Cllr Ernie Clark, who represents Hilperton, said while the road was in dire need of resurfacing, he hopes that now it has been completed it won’t have to be worked on for years to come.

“People don’t realise how heavily the road is used until you cut it off,” he added.