ANGRY drivers were subjected to severe delays after repair works blocked a stretch of one of the main routes into town.

Buses and cars were delayed by up to 90 minutes travelling on Church Road, to and from Caversham, resulting in disruptions for commuters.

The significant delays were caused by Thames Water’s emergency repairs, where temporary traffic lights had blocked off sections of the road, causing gridlock and excessive traffic.

Reading Buses CEO, Martijn Gilbert said on Twitter: “Thames Water works wreaking havoc in Caversham yet workmen just sitting in vans last night and again this morning!

“Is the work actually progressing? Major delays to motorists (and our buses)!”

A disgruntled driver said: “Last night (Tuesday) it took me an hour and 15 minutes to get from Broad Street Mall to Caversham.

Reading Chronicle:

“It is ridiculous. Everyone knows that the traffic in Reading is bad enough, but this is madness. I was ready to tear my hair out by the end of my journey.”

Thames water apologised for the delays caused and promised the work would be completed by lunchtime on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Thames Water said: “Our intention was to complete the emergency repair on a leaking water pipe and reinstate the road overnight, and we are sorry this has taken longer than expected.”

Emergency repairs and upgrades caused substantial delays throughout the town in the past months and Reading Borough Council voted to write to Thames Water to air their frustration for failing to meet deadlines on repairs.

Residents suffered similar frustration throughout October due to works on Bath Road, while the water firm waited for a specialist part to arrive.

Reading Chronicle:

A Reading Borough Council spokesman added: “The council was notified by Thames Water that the temporary signals on Church Road would be removed for peak hours.

"Despite that notification the road was not reinstated and the lights were not removed. Thames Water has this morning said the lights remained in place due to health and safety issues.

"While the council appreciates that works to leaking mains need to take place, we understand the obvious frustration of motorists caught in the delays. 

"In these circumstances the Council cannot stop the repair works going ahead, but we work with Thames Water to assist in minimising delays where possible, which is why the delays caused by the temporary lights on Church Road on Tuesday were disappointing.

"We will be meeting with Thames Water on Friday to understand the full reasons behind Tuesday night’s delays."