Roads have been left gridlocked and businesses worried for the future over emergency works with no end in sight.
Streets have been left in gridlock at rush hour after two lanes on Bitterne Road West were partially closed on Wednesday.
One resident who has lived in the area for decades said traffic is the worst it has ever been.
It’s left motorists angry and local businesses fearing for their future.
Southern Gas Networks has been unable to say when the crucial road will reopen – and said it would not be able to provide an estimate to the Echo until early next week.
Dominika Roznenska, who opened Domi Breakfast Café on Bitterne Road West only a month ago, fears that the road works could affect people coming to her fledgling business.
The new owner said: “I am worried about people not coming here because of the roadworks.
“I have noticed the road become a lot busier at rush hour.”
She added road works in the area is “nothing new, this is Southampton”, and continued: “We have traffic in one place, another, and then another, and there is nowhere to go.
“Today, we saw that the traffic is becoming a lot worse. We are hoping this will be the end of the roadworks for now.”
Meanwhile Janet Cronan, a lifelong resident of Bitterne Road West, said she has never seen traffic so bad in her many decades living on the road.
READ MORE: Southampton drivers warned of rush hour delays after gas leak
Janet, who lives in the home she was born in with husband Michael, said: “In the last two or three years, the volume of traffic and roadworks has gotten worse; it is the worse I have seen it.”
Michael said the roadworks mean their driveway is blocked more often.
He said: “We have a job getting in and out of here now, people do not give way. We have noticed an increase in traffic and roadworks.
“There needs to be more planning involved from people doing these works.”
Donna McIntyre added: “My usual route to work at Bitterne Park - sat in traffic for 20 minutes before I get to the lights at the bottom of Athelstan Road at 8.50am. No sign of any workers.”
The closure comes after a reported gas leak on Wednesday.
SGN has warned it is "too early to say how long it will take to complete a repair".
The team will remain on site until a repair is complete, the company said.
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