Roadworks have caused “carnage” at Watford General Hospital with visitors reportedly taking an hour to leave the car park. Cadent Gas has been carrying out emergency repairs to a main after the smell of gas was reported near the junction with Thomas Sawyer Way in Wiggenhall Road, according to the Watford Observer.

A gas escape on the main which runs underneath the road was discovered during assessment, requiring work under temporary four-way traffic lights and therefore resulting in what was described as ‘extreme congestion’.

Those caught up in the delays reported motorists getting out of vehicles to walk around while in the queue, traffic not moving at all for more than 20 minutes, and even ambulances struggling to get through.

Simon Dickson, who was visiting his mother-in-law at Watford General Hospital this afternoon, said he had “never seen anything like it”.

“It is hell on Earth,” he said, during a 55-minute wait to leave the car park. “Steve McQueen had an easier time getting out of the prison camp in The Great Escape.”

Cadent customer operations area manager Lee MacGibbon said:

“Tomorrow morning we will be able to remove these lights as we move further down Wiggenhall Road to complete our repair work. This section of the repair will only require the use of two-way lights which we hope will assist with the movement of traffic in the town.

“We thank everyone for their patience and understanding.”

A Hertfordshire County Council spokesperson added that the traffic lights are currently being managed under manual control to try to minimise the delays.

(Picture: Mapillary)