'We can't wait for the roadworks to be over'
BBCResidents and shopkeepers frustrated by the impact of ongoing traffic delays on a town centre say they can't wait for the roadworks to be over.
Only one of the three principle routes into Cockermouth, in Cumbria, is currently open because of council-implemented repairs and replacement drainage works.
Cumberland Council said the route maintenance was being carried out "as quickly as possible" and "sincerely apologised" to local people who have been affected by the works.
Sarah Potter, from No 15 shop, acknowledged it was better for roadworks to take place over the winter, rather than during the peak summer season, but said the traffic was putting people off shopping in town.
"It's difficult to get in, and I think people see the traffic and decide not to come," she said, noting "the last couple of weeks we've been a lot quieter".
In addition, she said her journey time, travelling the six miles from her home to the shop in Station Street, had more than doubled during the works - from about eight minutes to 20 minutes - and she had been parking out of town in order to avoid waiting in long queues of traffic.
Typically, during rush hour, queues of about half a mile have been building from the A595 towards Bellevue Roundabout.
Ryan KirkbrideLorraine Barrett, from Bespoke Gifts at No 46, said the roadworks were a "nightmare" - and instead of having approximately 20 customers visiting her Market Place shop each day, she was only seeing one or two shoppers daily.
"If you don't know Cockermouth, you don't know how to get round the roadworks - so as soon as they pull up to Aldi, they turn around and go somewhere else," she said.
The work is being carried out in stages, with Crown Street roundabout due to reopen this week, which will give greater access to Main Street.
"I cannot wait for Wednesday," said Ms Barrett.
The roadworks will continue until the end of the month, with Main Street roundabout closing for two days from 26 March and temporary traffic lights in place.
A road closure and temporary traffic lights at The Level, between Fitz Road and Lamplugh Road, is due to start on Thursday and continue until 25 March.
Patricia Melvin, who lives on Cockermouth's Highfield estate, said the roadworks entailed a long detour to reach the centre of town, with journey times increasing from 10 to 30 minutes.
"It takes you twice as long to get anywhere," she said.
She believes the various works should have been carried out at different times in order to reduce the impact on residents.
But Lyn Osbaldeston, who runs New to You by the Cumbrian Wordsmith, on Castlegate, said, although it had been quieter in the town, her business had not been impacted.
She said: "I do things maybe a little bit differently. I do quite a lot of advertising on social media and people will come here and choose to buy, regardless of what the traffic is doing or not doing.
"If they want to come into my shop, I'm a great believer in [the fact that] people will choose to do what they want to do."
Resident Alan Stephenson said there were still routes to get into Cockermouth.
"It's difficult, but it doesn't bother me a great deal," he said.
The work is part of a £14m project to upgrade the A5086, between Cockermouth and Egremont, and the A595 south of Sellafield.
It is being funded by Levelling Up cash from the government, and overseen by Cumberland Council.
The council said "extensive planning and communication" - including drop-in sessions with residents - had taken place prior to the start of the "critical" work.
A spokesman said: "We recognise that having multiple road closures in place at the same time is challenging, particularly with limited alternative routes available into Cockermouth."