FURTHER TRAFFIC chaos is expected on a busy Dundee commuter route today after Scottish Water confirmed repairs to a faulty manhole would stretch into a third day.

Arbroath Road was closed eastbound between Scott Fyffe roundabout and Kemnay Place yesterday and traffic was virtually paralysed westbound following the collapse of the manhole cover.

The problem came to light at 4pm on Wednesday evening but it wasn’t until 11am yesterday that Scottish Water finally began work on site—a fact that angered many motorists who faced delays of more than an hour getting to work yesterday.

Work continued at the site throughout the day but the complex nature of the repair—which forced engineers to dig up the road in order to shore up the frame of the manhole—meant it was impossible to reopen the road last night.

Scottish Water now estimates the work will be complete by this afternoon, meaning there will be more misery for drivers today, especially during the morning rush.

Vehicles were unable to exit eastbound on to Arbroath Road from the Scott Fyffe roundabout because of the works, and had to detour via Douglas Road or Strips of Craigie Road.

Although the westbound lane of Arbroath Road was open, it was much more difficult for its vehicles to move on to the roundabout because of the greater flow of traffic taking the Strips of Craigie Road exit.

Many motorists contacted The Courier yesterday to vent their frustration that a seemingly minor problem with a manhole had caused such major disruption.

One angry taxi driver said the traffic was the worst he had experienced in nine years working in the city.

He said, “Anybody with half a brain would have had a police presence at the Scott Fyffe roundabout to direct the traffic.”

Meanwhile, an Arbroath Road resident revealed he had called Scottish Water a month ago to alert them to the state of the manhole.

He said, “Last month I complained about the manhole as it had been rattling. The noise at night when vehicles drove over it had been waking my wife and I up, so we asked Scottish Water to investigate.

“It is definitely not accurate to say it has collapsed. It is quite clear the metal plates are still intact. It is just the side of one plate that appears to be broken.

“I can’t understand how it has caused so much fuss. Traffic has been chaotic.

“It is Scottish Water who are to blame. The only way to describe this is a total administrative shambles from start to finish.”

A Broughty Ferry driver was perplexed at finding no workmen repairing the manhole when he drove past in the afternoon and again in the evening, and he questioned the urgency with which the repair was being tackled.

A Scottish Water spokesperson last night apologised to motorists who had been inconvenienced and said every effort was being made to resolve the problem.

He said, “We have been working around the clock to repair the manhole cover at Arbroath Road.

“Extensive repairs to brickwork had to be performed and the manhole cover and frame replaced.

“The mortar and concrete reinforcement are being left to dry overnight.

“Early tomorrow a squad will be on site to reinstate the road so that it can be used by vehicles.

“We aim to have the road in use by early afternoon.”

The spokesperson added, “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this has caused to road users.”