MOTORISTS have raised concerns parts of Newquay are becoming choked with traffic during controversial roadworks.

Drivers face gridlocked traffic along Edgcumbe Avenue and Trevemper Road especially during school pick up and drop off times, which many believe has come about after a one-way traffic system was brought in whilst the Mid Cornwall Metro works in Cliff Road are taking place.

They now fear it could be a long winding road before the road network is back to normal as the scheme is due to be completed by the late spring of next year.

The daily gridlock has been exacerbated by a number of other roadworks taking place in the town including four-way traffic lights at Trevemper Road as well as at Tretherras Road and Trerice Drive.

Becky Rodda said: “It took me nearly 25 minutes to get from Bonython Road to Edgcumbe Avenue. It’s not going to get better in the colder months when less people want to walk to avoid the chaos.”

Many people have questioned whether the Mid Cornwall Metro works at Cliff Road will be worthwhile due to the ensuing “traffic chaos” and fears businesses will lose trade by converting 19 short term parking spaces into a cycle lane.

The scheme in Cliff Road also involves creating footway and public realm improvements, a new pedestrian crossing, changes to kerbs and the road layout, drainage, ducting and utility works as well as new surfacing and road markings to make the roads leading to and around Newquay Train Station safer for walkers and cyclists.

Raising concerns, Karen Preston said: “It took me 35 minutes to get from Barrowfields to the Gannel instead of 10 minutes. And the new road queued from Hendra back down to the new Tesco build in Nansledan. Either way there's going to be queues.

“I hope everyone is ready to get a bike to make good use of the new cycle lane. So far, the cyclists I know say it's a waste of time and not needed.”

Tim Anker added: “Months of misery for a scheme no one wants. It is £500,000 of public money for a few hundred metres of pathway. How many cyclists are expected to use it? Are there any forecasts available of number of daily users and additional passengers to the Cornwall Metro service?

“Or is this yet another case of those meant to be representing us once again deciding what's best for us?”

Newquay central Cornwall councillor Joanna Kenny said: “We are getting a lot of hold ups but I don’t think it’s just because of the roadworks in Cliff Road. The other roadworks are contributing.

“There cannot be roadworks in the summer months so we get a lot of road closures once the embargo is lifted as. You have multiple roadworks queuing up instead of being spread across the year. We get them all in six months.

“I think it might get worse before it gets better because there will be another hold up when they close the road going north of Morrisons roundabout between September 24 and 26.”