Drivers are reporting delays of more than an hour to leave Tesco in Watford.
Frustrated shoppers have taken to social media to express their dismay at how long it is taking to leave the Waterfields Way car park today.
The gridlock is due to roadworks on the roundabout where Waterfields Way and Stephenson Way meet.
The bushes on the roundabout are being cut back and lane closures are in place on all approaches.
Andrew Filer, who lives in Oxhey, said it took him two-and-a-half hours to get home.
He popped into Tesco at midday and did not get back to Oxhey until 2.40pm.
He said: "I literally popped in to buy some pens. It's ridiculous. The car park ought to have another access point. All the traffic is going one way.
"It was absolute madness today. People were actually being quite considerate. It could have boiled over."
Sarah Ross-Gower says it took her more than an hour to get from Tesco to her home in Nascot Wood.
She said: "I got in my car at half 12 and got in at about 1.40pm. Once I got onto Waterfields Way, it was 10 minutes to get home.
"Every single row in the car park was queuing. I had no idea what was happening. Drivers were beginning to get fractious.
"Three ambulances were even stuck in the car park."
Others took to Facebook and Twitter too to complain about the delays.
@Tesco are you aware of the absolute debacle taking place at your Watford store? The carpark is gridlocked, traffic is behaving appallingly and the roads surrounding are semi closed.
— Shell Harris (@ShellofHerts) February 3, 2020
@Tesco @tesconews what’s the deal in Watford Store car park - i’ve been sitting here for 40 minutes and we aren’t moving !!! I only popped in for a sandwich !!!
— Nil Molloy (@Molloys5) February 3, 2020
How am I spending my day off you ask? Well I'm stuck in a gridlock in Watford Tesco petrol station and reckon I'm gonna be here for at least an hour
— Louise (@louise_sarah) February 3, 2020
Been stuck in #Watford #Tesco car park for almost an hour now! What’s going on? @Observer_Owl
— Sarah Ross-Gower (@Bear_Sar) February 3, 2020
@Ringway_UK thank you for the badly planned works in Watford today. An hour sitting in Tesco car park... still waiting to get out ... frozen food ruined ...
— Sally Shiers (@sybersall) February 3, 2020
Whatever you do avoid #tesco Watford. Traffic jammed...been waiting an hour so far ...still in carpark... nightmare
— Peter A Barnard (@peterabarnard) February 3, 2020
Ringway, Hertfordshire County Council's contractor, has been monitoring the traffic delays and said journeys in Waterfields Way were being affected by 10 minutes. It did not have data about shoppers leaving the Tesco car park.
The work on the roundabout, being carried out by Ringway, will be in place 9.30am until 4pm today (Monday), Tuesday, and likely on Wednesday too, so be aware if you are heading to Waterfields over the next couple of days.
Vegetation work will continue along Waterfields Way both ways, during the day under a lane closure until February 14.
Did you get stuck in the car park or do you have any images of the gridlock? Email nathan.louis@newsquest.co.uk
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