Motorists have been accused of causing delays to a roadworks scheme along Moray’s busiest trunk route by ignoring diversion signs.
Gas distribution firm SGN began the work, along a stretch of the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road on the east of Elgin, earlier this month.
But project leaders claim the project has been blighted by drivers flouting “access only” signs, and attempting to use Ashgrove Road to access the busy artery.
Engineers who are replacing an outdated gas main along the route have been forced to down tools on several occasions to advise motorists to turn back down the street, which connects Linkwood Road with the A96.
SGN spokeswoman, Katie Lobban, yesterday issued a plea for drivers to stop breaching the restrictions and comply with the notices.
She said: “A number of motorists haven’t been using the signed diversion route, or observing the Ashgrove Road closure that’s in place.
“We understand that roadworks can be frustrating, but we urge road users to comply with the traffic management signs to ensure their own safety and to allow our engineers to complete this project as soon as possible.”
SGN thanked motorists who had been complying with the diversion signs for their “continued patience”, and stressed that the upgrade was “essential”.
Elgin City South councillor, John Divers, added he had personally observed drivers disobeying the signs.
He said: “I’ve seen traffic ignoring the ‘access only’ signs at the roundabout near the Elgin KFC and driving straight on.
“People think that they can get past, but they can’t and have to go down Ashgrove Road.”
Mr Divers has asked Moray Council’s roads department to investigate blocking off the westbound lane on the A96 to remove any possibility of drivers encroaching on the work.
The gasworks project began at the start of this month, and expanded last week when Transport Scotland started upgrading a stretch of the route, measuring more than half a mile, between Reiket Lane and Ashgrove Road.
The programme will include resurfacing both lanes of the A96 on the east of Elgin, as well as the roundabouts leading to the Tynock and Moycroft industrial estates.
In recent weeks, streets in the south of Elgin have seen a surge in traffic as motorists detour back onto the A96.