The Highways Agency has apologised to residents who can’t get a wink of sleep because of noisy construction work at the Posthouse roundabout in Chester.

Exhausted locals living up to a mile away have complained to The Chronicle but the agency says this element of the job can’t be carried out during the day as the necessary road closures would cause major disruption to motorists.

However, this part of the programme, which involves the installation of foundations, is expected to be finished by the end of next week.

But there’s more bad news for motorists, as revealed last week, because the £5.3m scheme – designed to increase capacity at the junction at the A55-A483 junction – won’t now be complete until May 10 when it should have been finished this month.

Resident Tim Mandeville said: “I am not a complainer by nature. I realise our roads need investment for the future, and must be maintained in the present. I’m not a guy who expects things to just ‘happen’ with zero effect on me personally.

“But I’m now nearing the end of my rope. It’s past 3am. I’m on my fifth consecutive night of unbearable noise through to 4am. I have a 40 mile drive to work and a family to provide for and I am now lacking in sleep so much that I fear for my safety on the road.

“I am one mile away from the Posthouse roundabout as the crow flies. It is like living next to a granite saw mill. My lawnmower doesn’t make this much noise in my own front garden. I can’t imagine how people nearer at the top of Lache Lane are coping.”

Resident Jon Lowe tweeted: “Been unable to sleep for two nights! #unacceptable #noise pollution.”

Highways Agency spokesman David Harris said: “We would like to apologise to local residents who have been disturbed by the overnight work taking place at the A55 junction with the A483.

“We have been installing the foundations for the new footbridge and have needed to close parts of the junction overnight to carry out the construction work. The work to install the foundations, which has been causing most of the noise, is due to be finished by the end of next week.

“Unfortunately, it would not be possible for this work to take place during the day, as the road closures would cause major disruption to drivers on a key route between the North West and Wales.”

Mr Harris added: “The work on the A55/A483 pinch point scheme has unfortunately been delayed. This is a complex junction-widening project, which has already delivered two new sets of traffic lights on the A483 junction and replaced a mini roundabout.

“The current completion date for the project is now May 10. The delay has been caused by problems with drainage and bridge strengthening work.

“We are sorry about the delay to the completion of the scheme and we understand the frustrations felt by drivers experiencing delays at the junction. We will continue to work closely with our contractors to minimise the impact on road users in the area.

“Once complete, drivers will see major improvements to their journeys, with extra capacity at the junction and improved traffic flow reducing congestion.”