Traffic chaos as developer accused of undermining retaining wall on road

ONE of South Yorkshire's busiest roads was in chaos yesterday after a developer undermined a retaining wall holding up the A61.

Barnsley Council has been forced to install temporary traffic lights at the A61 Park Road in Worsbrough, near the junction with Vernon Road and West Street.

Yesterday, the first day after the new lights were installed, drivers were reporting substantial tailbacks, stretching as far back to the M1 motorway junction at Tankersley during the morning rush hour.

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It is unclear how long the lights will need to be in place and what action, if any, may be taken against the developer that created the problem.

A spokesman for Barnsley Council said the authority was "investigating" and added: "The council has discovered that a private developer working alongside the A61 has undermined the retaining wall that holds up the highway.

"By his action, the developer has created the potential for collapse of the wall, which in turn could affect the stability of the footway and carriageway.

"The council has taken this action to minimise the risk to the travelling public using the A61.

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"There is currently no timescale as to when this problem will be rectified, so delays along this route at peak times should be anticipated until further notice."

One driver who experienced the lengthy delays yesterday morning said: "On the first morning after the traffic lights were installed, traffic heading south on the A61 was queuing back beyond junction 36 on the M1.

"I didn't try driving through the roadworks, but if its like that every day it will be chaotic. Drivers will doubtless find their own alternative routes, but most of the other roads in the area are either minor country lanes or residential roads and it there's too much traffic on them its bound to cause problems.

"It looks like its going to be terrible for people who live in the area, or have to drive through frequently, and its worrying that no-one can say how long it will take to do the repairs," he said.