IPSWICH: Motorists face a frustrating week ahead as they contend with a number of road closures.

Commuters are being hit by delays as vital work is carried out on three main routes in the town, which are expected to last into next week.

It is the latest setback for drivers who have all too often seen the town’s fragile road network descend into gridlock.

Engineers from National Grid were called out to Key Street on Tuesday after a member of the public reported a smell of gas.

It was then discovered that gas was leaking from a pipe running underneath the road, forcing one lane to be closed.

Sara Wilcox, a spokesman for National Grid, said: “We believe that our engineers will be at the site until the end of this week and we do apologise to motorists for any disruption that this has caused.”

A section of Foxhall Road near to the junction of Dover Road will also be closed until the end of next week at the earliest due to a collapsed sewer.

Sara Rowland, a spokesman for Anglia Water, said it could be 10 to 14 days before the problem is fixed.

“We apologise for the inconvenience but it is something that we cannot leave,” she said. “If it can be done quicker, it will be.”

Work also started last night on Stoke Bridge and will continue each night until the middle of next week.

EDF Energy is currently carrying out work on the bridge as part of a �2.5million project in the Grafton Way area to strengthen power supplies.

A spokesman for EDF Energy said: “In a bid to cause as little disruption as possible to motorists, the work is being carried out throughout the night.

“One lane of the bridge will be closed for safety reasons while work is being carried out and diversion signs will be in place for motorists. The bridge will be open each morning by 7am and the closures will not take place over the Bank Holiday weekend.

“We apologise to residents and motorists for any disruption that may be involved in these essential works to improve electricity supplies for the future.”

A number of car crashes in recent months have resulted in chaos for drivers.

On Friday, commuters faced nightmare delays after a four-vehicle smash completely blocked a lane of the A14 causing tailbacks heading into Ipswich.

Traffic built up along Felixstowe Road and Nacton Road as motorists tried to avoid the hold ups.

On July 16 last year, traffic in Ipswich town centre ground to a standstill after a lorry suffered a puncture on the Orwell Bridge.

n What do you think needs to be done to solve the traffic problems? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters @eveningstar.co.uk