FEARS of traffic chaos when Wessex Water resumed work on laying a new water main for Devizes did not materialise this week.

Wessex Water began the work on Monday and motorists travelling from Devizes towards Swindon on the A361 are being diverted around the Hopton Industrial Estate. This diversion is expected to last another two weeks.

Southbound traffic is unaffected but while the work is going on a 40 mph speed limit has been introduced on the dual carriageway.

Following the work near the Hopton Industrial Estate Wessex Water will move up on to the dual carriageway, reducing one side of the carriageway to one lane for three weeks.

Speaking yesterday project manager Steve Dodwell said: "We've only been on site for two days so far but the diversions seem to be working well. We are doing all we can to minimise the impact of our work on traffic flows and any traffic lights will only operate outside of rush hours."

The work to replace the water main is costing £800,000.

It began last summer and the worst congestion was experienced when temporary traffic lights were set up on London Road resulting in some motorists taking up to an hour to travel across town.

One of those motorists, Noel Woolrych, said this week's diversions had caused him no problems.

He said: "I would congratulate Wessex Water as there has been no traffic delays at all. The traffic seems to be flowing well.

"The only problem I have experienced is motorists parking cars on the side of the road and pavement on the Hopton estate between Uniq and Fussell Wadman making the road narrower."