DRIVERS in Winchester are set for months of traffic chaos with the closure of a vital city artery today.

A major £8m project to heighten Winchester’s railway bridges will close St Cross Road until the end of March, before a similar scheme begins in Andover Road.

The work, part of a drive to increase the railway’s freight capacity, is predicted to cause mayhem for commuters, businesses and residents.

Clive Mansell, who manages The Bell Inn and The Queen Inn, said the works could mean the closure of both pubs.

“Access will be a complete nightmare,” said Mr Mansell, who also runs The Fulflood Arms.

“With St Cross Road closed, other potential routes into Winchester will be gridlocked.

“As owners we are uncertain that we will be able to survive the winter and could become two of the ever-growing number of pubs to close.

“It is such a pity when we have put so much into the communities we are part of.”

Mark Peague, owner of The Frying Fish, said the outlook was just as bleak for his business.

“I think we’ll be 50 per cent down on trade and, if it is, I’ll be negotiating with the landlord for a rent reduction,” said Mr Peague.

“If I don’t get it, that will be it.

“Hopefully people will travel here — if they don’t we’ll see what happens,” he added.

“Network Rail will be making money with more freight capacity, but we should not lose money as a result.

“I’m not happy at all, I’m not happy about not being notified properly, and secondly that Network Rail won’t guarantee they will compensate us.”

Edward Chase, of Grange Road, predicted Garnier Road, which has several traffic-calming passing points, will be gridlocked.

“It’s going to be bad,” said the 56-year-old, who commutes to the air traffic control centre at Swanwick.

“I don’t see any evidence that the council has taken any measures to mitigate the likely problems.

“They could have done the other bridges in Winchester first and then come back to St Cross Road when the park and ride is open.”

Network Rail said the upgrades were necessary to allow bigger containers to be transported to Southampton Docks.

Richard O’Brien, its route director for Wessex, said: “This project aims to increase the amount of freight transported from Southampton by rail, which will help reduce carbon emissions and road congestion, as well as delivering long-term economic benefits for the south east region.

“We have to replace these bridges to achieve the many benefits of transporting freight by rail rather than road.

“Where possible, we have made the new structures better than the ones we removed, for example by adding cycle tracks or improved footpaths.”

Keith Wilson, of Winchester’s Business Improvement District (BID), said: “The key message is that Winchester is very much open for business.

“Although road users may have to alter their normal routes into the city, Winchester remains accessible and as always, has a great deal to offer visitors.

“I would ask that the contractors and local authority keep businesses aware of progress at every stage, particularly if any delay to the planned schedule looks even remotely possible.

“Obviously this is a large and lengthy project which will undoubtedly cause disruption, but we often find with work of this nature that the disruption dies down considerably as people get used to using the suggested diversions.”

St Cross Road will be closed from today (Monday, January 4) to Wednesday, March 31, from Mead Road to the roundabout at Badger Farm Road.

Andover Road will be closed from April 12 to July 12, and the Stoke Charity railway bridge will be shut from April 6 to July 30.