TRAFFIC misery is set to continue in Richmond as a gas pipeline company confirmed that mains replacement would continue for another three weeks.

Since the beginning of August, drivers have seen up to 40 minutes added to journeys because of three-way traffic lights at the bottom of Gallowgate.

Long queues have stretched as far back as Reeth Road and Darlington Road and narrow residential streets have become rat-runs as motorists tried to avoid the hold-up.

The temporary lights were installed on August 1, when Transco began replacing gas mains at the junction of Frenchgate, Gallowgate and Pottergate.

Work on the initial 460m of pipe finished this week, but a spokeswoman for the company said replacement of an adjoining 435m would follow immediately.

"Rather than stop completely and then go back in to continue the work at a later date, the company has asked for permission to continue along towards Darlington Road," she said.

"The three-way traffic lights will remain for the next section and the work is likely to take two or three weeks. All we can do is apologise to drivers for any delays."

Traders already hit by last year's foot-and-mouth crisis said the traffic chaos was almost certainly deterring people from visiting Richmond.

Dr Mike Nicholls, of the town's business and tourism association, said: "We are most concerned about the blockage in Richmond. The town seems to have a death wish; everything seems to be conspiring against it.

"We have asked whether Transco can work round the clock on shifts but it appears not. If these roadworks continue into the start of the new school term, it will be complete gridlock."

He was also concerned about the effect of the hold-ups over the bank holiday weekend and feared visitors would be deterred from visiting the town.

Chartered accountant Tony Fava said journeys between his offices in the town centre and at Aske, just outside Richmond, had become a nightmare.

"Every journey is at least 50pc longer and every time I come in or out of Richmond it is costing me time and money," he said.

The hold-ups were affecting trade for other town centre businesses, including his wife's health food shop, the Wives' Kitchen, in Finkle Street.

"It is an absolute disgrace," he said. "If they had to pay to have temporary traffic lights they would make sure the work was done as quickly as possible with 24-hour working. I am sure they could find ways of making it less onerous. They have virtually closed up the town. There is no way you can get into town without making an enormous detour."

Among other businesses feeling the effects of the delays were taxi firms. A spokeswoman for Richmond Cabs said drivers were stuck in long tailbacks several times a day. "It is taking 25 or 30 minutes to do what is normally a three or four minute job," she said. "We are also having customers phoning up to ask where their taxis are."

A spokeswoman for Arriva buses said drivers had experienced delays but no services had been cancelled.

Residents campaigning to restrict traffic in Quarry Road had noticed an increase in vehicles as drivers used the route to avoid the hold-ups. One resident, who did not want to be named, said cars often queued in both directions because the road was too narrow for such a volume. Quaker Lane was also much busier than usual.

Drivers stuck in the queue late on Tuesday afternoon were dismayed that the hold-ups were to continue.

Brendan Roberts, of Richmond Flooring, said he endured the tailbacks every working day and was sure they must deter shoppers.

"It's quicker to go to Darlington than to get into Richmond town centre," he said. "It takes three-quarters of an hour for what would normally be a ten-minute trip."

Bus passengers, too, were angry at the hold-ups. Helen Miller, who works at the Expressions hair salon in Finkle Street, said the twice-daily bus journey to her home at Barton took on average 20 minutes longer than usual.

"It has been weeks now and there never seems to be anyone working on the site," she said. "I'm surprised there hasn't been any road rage yet.