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ENGINEERS working on the A35 have at last fixed an emergency underground leak and aim to open the road fully by the end of the day.

Drivers were still facing long delays this morning as work to rebuild the excavated areas of the Redbridge flyover began.

But maintenance crews worked in to the small hours to try and locate the problem and Southern Gas Network chiefs hope road restrictions will be lifted by tonight.

Spokeswoman Sharon Miller-McKenzie said: "We have replaced the damaged section of pipe.

"We are now reconstructing the road with asphalt and tar and we are waiting for that to cool.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank motorists for their patience and reiterate that we need to carry out these emergency works."

Yesterday drivers were warned that the work could last until the end of the week.

Engineers worked until last night to find the source of a gas leak on the A35 Redbridge flyover.

And they returned to excavate the road at 9.30am today in a bid to miss the peak traffic period.

Ms Miller-McKenzie said: "We would like to thank motorists for their patience."

It was not until yesterday that engineers finally located the broken section of pipe under the A35 Redbridge flyover and have been given permission to close both lanes eastbound to begin excavation.

It meant that mid-morning traffic was inching in single file along the slip road as commuters attempted to reach the city centre.

Drivers, already reeling from the start of major roadworks on the M27, have been facing huge snarl-ups on the A35 into the city after a serious gas leak was detected underground.

Southern Gas Network said that the emergency work was essential for safety reasons.

Commuters who have been using the road as an alternative to the M27 - where an extensive widening project is taking place between junctions three and four - now face a second battle to reach the city centre.

They were being warned to expect severe delays during rush hour periods while workmen examine one of two mains gas pipes in a bid to track down the fault.

An AA spokesman said motorists should be given more of an indication as to when they should expect an end to the tailbacks.