THE ARRIVAL of three Cunard ships in Southampton is causing traffic misery for motorists this morning.

Daily Echo:

Within the city centre many routes are slow moving and highways chiefs are urging motorists to avoid the area if possible.

There is slow traffic on Portsmouth Road over Itchen Bridge, as well as Northam Bridge, Saltmarsh Road, Canute Road and Orchard Place.

Daily Echo:

West Quay Road, heading towards Town Quay also has long delays and Bassett Avenue is busy in both directions.

Queues on the M27 heading towards Southampton are reaching back to the junction with the M3, causing long delays, while those heading out of the city via the M271 are also facing heavy traffic.

And now that the main disembarkation from the three Queens is underway, these roads heading out of the city are expected to get busier.

Currently the city's highways agency is reporting that the clearest route to Dock Gate 4 is the A33 Bassett Avenue, to Kingsways and Terminus Terrace.

Daily Echo:

They say that it is taking about 20 minutes to get to Dock Gate 4 from West Quay Road and the Itchen Bridge.

There are also delays into the city between Mountbatten Way and Dock Gate 4 as well as slow moving traffic from Bevois Valley Road and Onslow Road, approaching Dorset Street.