ROADWORKS at a busy Southampton junction have been suspended after just one day after causing traffic chaos in the area.

Huge queues built up in Winchester Road, Bassett, after a three-way traffic lights scheme was installed at its junction with Butterfield Road.

Residents said the tailbacks stretched as far south as the roundabout at the junction of Hill Lane and Lordswood Road.

Congestion caused by the lights was so severe that the city council and contractors Balfour Beatty were forced to rethink the project.

The lights were taken away and all the other equipment moved to the side of the road while engineers devised a strategy to keep the traffic flowing when work resumes today.

A woman living near the junction told the Daily Echo: “The roadworks were a pain in the neck.

“Vehicles held up by the lights went all the way back to the roundabout - and some of the blue barriers used by the contractors were placed across the entrance to my driveway.

“I had to pull over and wait for them to be moved before I could get back in.”

But another Winchester Road resident added: “The contractors were very helpful and very communicative. If the work’s got to be done it’s got to be done.”

A city council spokesman said the improvements aimed to make it easier for pedestrians to cross the two roads.

He added: “The work started on Monday. We didn’t receive any complaints from residents but by late afternoon could see that the traffic management was causing some congestion.

“The decision was made to remove the signals. The work will now be reprogrammed and phased, with different traffic management in place.”

Under the scheme, lowered kerbs and tactile paving will be installed in Butterfield Road to create a crossing point for pedestrians.

In Winchester Road an existing pedestrian refuge will be improved by realigning the dropped kerbs on both sides of the carriageway and adding tactiles.

The council spokesman added: “Both these schemes are primarily about accessibility and making it much easier for pedestrians and those with mobility issues.

“From today we will resume work on Butterfield Road, so no impact on Winchester Road.”

The spokesman said the scheme was being funded by developers but was unable to give any further details, including the cost.

Ward councillor Les Harris added: “I haven’t received any complaints but Winchester Road is a busy route and whatever you do is going to cause disruption.”