FUMING motorists in Chester are facing a summer of traffic chaos - despite reassurances that the number of expected roadworks in the city is typical for this time of year.

The Cheshire West and Chester Council website lists six current schemes, with a further nine so-called ‘High Impact’ works over the next three months.

A number of others have recently been completed, including resurfacing in Nicholas Street and repairs to underground pipework.

These are in addition to various Gas Alliance and Dee Valley Water maintenance works and another four developments that are expected to impact on traffic flow over the summer, and nine race days where roads close to the racecourse will be closed to traffic at certain times of the day.

Cheshire West and Chester council spokeswoman Laura Jones said the high number of roadworks that are either ongoing or planned in Chester was “not that unusual” and that, in many cases, it is unavoidable as it is necessary for work to take place over the summer.

She added: “The gas works have to take place over the warmer months while demand is low, and Cheshire West and Chester try to carry out work while temperatures are above freezing as this reduces the likelihood of potholes.”

Current high impact roadworks taking place in Chester are:

A41 Ring Road, Pipers Ash, Chester: June 3 - August 27

Cornwall Road, Weston Grove, Upton, Chester: May 31 to August 6.

Delamere Street, Chester: August 24 2009 - August 2010

Mannings Lane South, Chester: May 4 – June 25.

Nicholas Street Mews between Grey Friars and Watergate Street: April 10 to June 2010.

St James Avenue, Upton: Due to a collapsed sewer, work ongoing until further notice.

Plus various Gas Alliance works around Chester until 2011.

High impact roadworks in and around the city which are due to start within the next three months include:

A483/Overleigh Roundabout/New Crane Street: TBA

A49 Whitchurch Road, Cholmondeley: July 17 – July 18.

Ethelda Drive, Chester – September 13 – October 15.

Picton Lane, Picton: August 9 to September 3.

Somerset Road and Surrey Road: June 28 – August 6.

Victoria Road, Chester: September 6 – November 12.

Roadworks associated with developers’ work are:

A5268/Lower Watergate Street (Linen Hall): Pedestrian access required for new development. No firm dates.

A5268/St Martins Way/Sens Close/Princess Street: New traffic signals required. No firm dates.

Fountains Roundabout: Footway works. No firm dates.

Delamere Street/George Street realignment work: May 14 – July 23.

Oulton Place/Victoria Road: Kerb realignment. No firm dates.

Blacon and Saughall have 10 roads currently affected by roadworks. These are: Wordsworth Crescent, Blacon Avenue, Blacon Point Road, Melbourne Road, Parkway, Lodge Lane, Shelley Road and Meynell Place in Blacon, and Hermitage Road in Saughall. These are ongoing, with some not expected to end for another three weeks.

In Upton, the renewal of water mains means that Western Grove, Cornwall Road, Somerset Road, Surrey Road, Mannings Lane South, Hoole Road and Caughall Road will all be affected between now and August, with diversions via Wealstone Lane, Heath Road and A41 Long Lane (Except for access and emergency vehicles).

Chester Races are being held on Friday, June 25 to Saturday, June 26; Friday, July 9 to Saturday, July 10; Sunday, August 1; Saturday, August 21; Friday, September 10 to Saturday, September 11; Saturday, September 25.

Closures include:

Nuns Road and City Walls Road, between Stanley Place and Lower Watergate Street to southbound traffic, from 4.30pm – 10.30pm on Friday, June 25 and Friday, July 9, 12.30pm – 7.30pm on other dates.

Lower Watergate Street, between St Martins Way and City Walls Road, 5pm – 10.30pm on Friday, June 25 and Friday, July 9, 12.15pm – 7.30pm on other dates.

Bridge Street, from six metres north of its junction with Feathers Lane and Watergate Street, and Watergate Street, between Bridge Street and St Martins Way will be closed between 9pm and 10.30pm on Friday, June 25 and Friday, July 9, 4.30pm – 7.30pm on other dates.

Linenhall Place, from 7am – 10.30pm on Friday, June 25 and Friday, July 9, 7am – 6.30pm on other dates.