30 minute commutes in Southampton delayed by average of 21 minutes a day

That's the time drivers have wasted stuck in nightmare jams on Southampton's roads in the past year.

Frustrated motorists endured journeys that were 67 per cent longer than if the roads had been clear, with Tuesday being the worst day for gridlock in the city, a new report revealed.

The statistics looking at congestion on Southampton's roads in 2014 showed how drivers on a 30-minute commute to and from work were delayed by an average of 21 minutes each day as traffic ground to a halt.

Last year proved a testing time on the roads for people who found themselves trapped in lengthy queues as a number of major roadwork schemes got underway. They included the Platform for Prosperity project to turn Platform Road and Town Quay into a dual carriageway, and repair work on Central Bridge.

But there were also added problems, like in November, when a lifted manhole cover caused hours of gridlock as the authorities struggled to agree who was responsible for it.

In January last year the Daily Echo reported how some trapped motorists were forced to abandon vehicles and even urinate in the street as hundreds became caught up in gridlock when road works clashed with the arrival of five cruise ships.

And in November a broken drain cover in Millbrook Road West ended up bringing the city to a standstill for almost five hours.

At the beginning of this year another major project was started, to carry out essential repair work on Northam Bridge.

The research, from information company Tom Tom, shows that Tuesday was the worst day for morning rush-hour delays, with congestion adding 67 per cent on to journey times, in comparison with 66 per cent on Mondays and a weekly average of 55 per cent.

In evening rush-hour Wednesdays saw the biggest delay - 56 per cent - with the weekly average standing at 51 per cent.

The report also revealed that the day with the highest congestion levels in 2014 was January 13.

Overall, average journeys in the city took 24 per cent longer than they would in free-flowing traffic - up from 20 per cent in 2013 and 19 per cent in 2012.

However the city is only 16th in the table of UK cities, with Belfast top with an overall average of 36 per cent.

And motorists in Southampton are not as badly affected as their counterparts in the world's most congested city, Istanbul in Turkey, where delays add 57 per cent on to average journey times.

Cllr Jacqui Rayment, the council's transport boss

The council's Labour transport boss, Jacqui Rayment, had faced calls to resign from her Conservative opponents over the string of incidents.

She said: “We have had an unprecedented amount of investment going into the city, including the bridge works, Platform for Prosperity and investment that comes to the city that it outside of our control, such as the work on the new Mayflower Halls in the city centre.

“All of that has had an impact on our roads, and of course there is work outside of the city being done by the Highways Agency.

“I think we learned some painful lessons, but Northam Bridge appears to be going well, Platform for Prosperity has finished which had a big impact and I am hopeful that the congestion figure will reduce though of course we will always strive to bring investment into the city.”

Cllr Royston Smith

Conservative opposition leader Royston Smith said: "This comes as no surprise.

“Tom Tom's traffic index tells us everything we all already know, Southampton's traffic is abysmal.

“A commuter can now expect to be delayed by over 80 hours per year - time that could and should be spent resting or with family and friends.

“If this continues businesses will be damaged and people will find alternative places to shop, work and visit."