Motorists are advised to use alternative routes or public transport to avoid getting snarled up in traffic congestion caused by bridge-strengthening work on a major route.
A stretch of Liverpool Road is closed in one direction – going out of Chester from the fountains roundabout to the junction with Victoria Crescent, with traffic diverted down Parkgate Road.
The most serious problems are expected during the evening rush hour although some drivers going into Chester did face extra problems on Monday morning on the first day of the £180,000 work, which involves a bridge over the Millennium cycleway.
Chris Burnham, roads liaison officer with Cheshire Police, said: “The evening peak traffic, trying to leave the city, is more problematic and it might be appropriate for people to find alternative routes home.”
He added: “Drivers might find it more appropriate to go down Sealand Road or down Hoole Road if they are heading that way to pick up the A41.”
Mr Burnham said the usual experience with major roadworks was that traffic calmed down after “two or three days”. But it was inevitable Parkgate Road would be busier than normal heading out of the city since two lanes of traffic were in being forced into one lane.
The bridge work means Chester-bound traffic using Brook Lane cannot access Liverpool Road at the mini-roundabout near Total Fitness and is instead being diverted along Victoria Road and back onto Liverpool Road. That end of Victoria Road is currently one way only to allow traffic to negotiate the junction safely.
Emergency services have been kept informed about the road closure which is likely to be in place until the end of March.
Watch manager Neil Harrison of Chester Fire Station said no special arrangements were in place but fire service drivers had the knowledge to divert along alternative routes.
He said: “We are aware of it and, depending on where we are in the town, will deal with it.”
Mr Harrison said Liverpool Road was often used to access the Countess of Chester Hospital, a site which represents “a major risk” on the fire service radar because of the number of vulnerable people.
