Delays along the A316 should subside from this Friday, as Thames Water works are due to finish.

Sewer repairs at the junction of Percy Road and Hospital Bridge Road were expected to finish before Christmas, but a number of issues forced Thames Water to extend them until February 1.

A Thames Water spokeswoman said: “Work is progressing well and we are on track to finish by Friday. We’d like to thank people for bearing with us while we’ve been getting this done and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

A Thames Water spokeswoman previously said the company had to pump out very high ground water from around the sewer pipe, due to last year’s record rainfall, and also had to contend with challenges brought about by local soil conditions, with loose sand is causing voids underneath the road.

She added: “Voids under the road are incredibly dangerous. If left unchecked they can cause the road to collapse.

“We have also identified another collapse on the sewer further down at the junction of Hospital Bridge Road, Percy Road and Powder Mill Lane. The section from Percy Road to the A316 is now repaired and we are working to get the rest of the job done as quickly as we can.”`