FURIOUS motorists say traffic surveys for the new Mersey crossing have created congestion chaos and caused them to arrive at work up to two hours late.
Thesurveysbegan inHaltonandits surrounding areas last week as preparations for the construction of the bridge gather pace.
The huge traffic study was demanded by the Government as a condition of the £209m being allocated to the project by the Department of Transport.
Checkpoints were set up on the approaches to the Silver Jubilee Bridge andonRuncorn'sExpressway network last week.
Survey staff, working in conjunction with police, asked drivers to pull over and fill out a questionnaire.
In other cases, drivers were handed forms to fill out in their own time.
The surveys caused long tailbacks during rush-hour period and some drivers say the operation has cost them money in lost pay.
One said: 'It is ridiculous. The wholeideaofbuilding anewbridgeis to cut down on congestion. But even at its worst, the old bridge has never caused congestion like this.'
Rachel Ferguson, travelling to Warrington on business, said: 'I made an early start but I ended up missing my meeting and possibly a new contract because of this stupid survey.
'Surely the Government must know by now that we need a new bridge. The council has been making its case for years. Why do motorists have to suffer just so some Civil Service jobsworth can say a survey has been carried out?'
A council spokeswoman said the locations for the surveys had been picked to cause minimum disruption - but drivers are still warned to expect some delays.
Steve Nicholson, Mersey Gateway project director, said: 'The surveys were requested by the Department of Transport and are an important part of the meticulous planning under way to ensure this project runs smoothly.
'It will take drivers just seconds to answer our questions but their help will ensure the Mersey Gateway gets built as quickly as possible.
