TRAFFIC chaos resulting from the resurfacing of a busy St Albans road was compounded this week when a hole was discovered which had to be urgently repaired.

The section of King Harry lane between Bluehouse Hill and The Ramparts will be closed for resurfacing between 9.30am and 7.30pm for at least another three weeks and has resulted in gridlocked traffic in surrounding roads, particularly the city centre.

On Tuesday workmen discovered a hole under the road which was probably caused by water leaking from a collapsed pipe and temporary two-way traffic signals had to be put in place between the pedestrian crossing and Bluehouse Hill.

The three metre square hole is expected to be filled today and the light remain in place during the morning rush hour.

Stuart Pile, the county council’s executive member for highways, apologised for the additional inconvenience. He said: “We appreciate that the essential maintenance works that we’re carrying out on King Harry Lane are already causing disruption and the news of this additional traffic management will not be welcome.”