People whose lives have been impacted by the long-term closure of a major road say they feel “trapped” and warn it will not be long before someone gets hurt.

The A229 Loose Road in Maidstone has been shut for emergency gas works since April 18 - and utility company SGN now says it will remain closed for another three weeks.

It was shut in both directions due to a gas leak detected just before Easter and engineers have been repairing pipes between Maidstone Fire Station and the Swan Inn.

The closure has caused widespread disruption, with bin collections delayed, buses rerouted and businesses impacted, as well as gridlock in surrounding lanes.

An official diversion is in place via Loose Road, Linton Road, Heath Road, Plough Wents Road and Sutton Road to rejoin Loose Road.

However, some have been using back roads – including single-track country lanes – as a rat run.

Saffiere Dunstan-Saffrey says Cave Hill, where she has lived since 2015, is one of the routes blighted by constant queues caused by traffic seeking an alternative to the A229.

She added that she now feels “trapped” in her home, which was particularly scary when her dog became unwell.

Her three-year-old pug, Beau, suffered a seizure last Friday (May 2).

Unable to leave her house due to traffic, the 60-year-old called the vets and instead had to receive instructions over the phone.

“It was the most terrifying thing ever,” she said. “I was absolutely hysterical.

“I didn’t realise what was happening to him. He was shaking and his eyes were rolling. He fitted three times. I managed to take him for a check-up the following day.”

Larger vehicles getting stuck in the narrow lanes has also led to angry exchanges between drivers, says Saffiere.

“It’s quite a scary feeling,” she said. “On Sunday, my partner had to go out and help a lorry turn around because he was threatening to beat up another driver.

“We had to intervene. I honestly thought a fight was going to break out.”

Saffiere runs art sessions for people with dementia and has resorted to leaving at 6.30am to avoid queuing.

She said a recent doctor's appointment in College Road, Maidstone, usually about a 10-minute drive, took her two hours and 40 minutes.

“You might as well try to walk it, but you can't squeeze past the cars either, because they're so stuck.

“Somebody is going to die here. It’s insane. I get that the works have to take place but there has to be a way of keeping those lorries out of the lanes.”

Ian MacDonald lives in Broadoak Avenue and says an easy solution would be to have a marshall at the top of Cripple Street directing the traffic.

“They would be able to stop big vehicles from entering the road and getting stuck,” he explained.

“Countless lorries just follow their sat nav and don't realise or pay attention – then all hell breaks loose. It’s ridiculous.

“There’s nothing we can do about the work, but it feels like there is no urgency.

“You’d think if it was an emergency closure that there would be people working around the clock to fix it.”

The permit for the closure has already been pushed back twice and has now been delayed for another three weeks until Sunday, June 1.

SGN spokesman Bradley Barlow said: “We’ve been carrying out emergency repairs to our gas network in Loose Road, and further investigations have found that a significant section of our gas network along Loose Road and Cripple Street is in poor condition.

“We’ve carried out multiple repairs but for everyone’s safety and to avoid future disruption, we’ve decided to urgently replace these gas mains with new plastic pipe.”

He said SGN had worked in close consultation with Kent County Council (KCC) and had arranged for its contractor, WCB Utilities, to provide two engineering teams at short notice to start this work yesterday (Tuesday, May 6). A third team is due to join them on Monday, May 12.

He continued: “WCB Utilities will be working extended hours alongside SGN’s emergency engineers, who will be checking the area for further gas escapes.

“For everyone’s safety, while we carry out this work, Loose Road has to remain closed until Sunday, June 1.

“During this time, we also aim to replace a section of old metal gas main along Cripple Street and into the junction with Boughton Lane.

“We’ll initially be using traffic lights at these locations, but depending on site conditions, we may need to install more road closures to ensure the safety of our engineers and road users.

“Access will be kept for residents and businesses within the closure points where it is safe to do so and access will always be possible via the signed diversion routes.”

SGN will be posting updates on its progress and any changes to traffic management on a dedicated project page. Click here to read more.

The spokesman added: “We recommend turning off sat navs and following the signed diversion routes and avoiding using smaller roads that are not suitable for heavy traffic.

“We’re working with KCC to arrange for additional signs to be placed to indicate roads that are not suitable for HGVs.

“Bus services will also be affected. Please contact the operators directly for changes to routes and bus stop locations.

“We understand roadworks can be frustrating, and we’re sorry for any inconvenience this causes. However, the new plastic pipe has a lifespan of 80 years.

“This means that once our work is done, Maidstone residents and businesses will be able to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable supply of gas for many years to come.”