PEOPLE travelling in and out of Lowestoft were subjected to more than three hours of chaos this morning as work on the Bascule Bridge ran late.A routine overnight closure of the crossing was due to be completed by 6am this morning, but it was not fully operational until around 9.

PEOPLE travelling in and out of Lowestoft were subjected to more than three hours of chaos this morning as work on the Bascule Bridge ran late.

A routine overnight closure of the crossing was due to be completed by 6am this morning, but it was not fully operational until around 9.30am.

Despite opening to vehicles at around 8.30am, contractors were forced to open the bridge again, causing another build up of traffic as a commercial vessel passed through.

People trying to get to work via their normal route had to sit in miles of traffic or find a detour through Oulton Broad, which led to major holds up and long tail backs.

Separate road works on the A146 Barnby Bends saw motorists trying to use the single track down Swan Lane to get into Lowestoft.

Many people had to cancel appointments, arrived late at work and others had to reschedule the day.

Some parked in the south of the town and walked across the temporary footbridge over Lake Lothing.

The news is the latest blip in a series of blunders to do with the £2.3m maintenance project.

Originally scheduled for completion last December, work is expected to run until at least mid autumn.

Last week The Highways Agency, who is overseeing the project, announced that the overall number of closures to the bridge had been reduced by five nights.

The agency had predicted 37 overnight closures between the latter part of May and end of September to finish the work, which will now be 32.

Visit www.highways.gov.uk for further details or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30.