Planned work on Winsover Road and the closure of the A151 from West Pinchbeck to Bourne is causing delays – but emergency work at Little London and Holbeach Road this week has added to the gridlock.

The Low Road exit of the A16 bypass and the B1356 through Pinchbeck are the only main routes into Spalding not affected by roadworks.

And with the installation of a puffin crossing in Winsover Road putting Station Street and Swan Street out of action, the roadworks are causing major headaches for businesses and bus and taxi firms.

Barrier Bank also has intermittent traffic lights due to work on the replacement A1073.

Judy Brookes, Spalding Taxi Forum chairman and proprietor of Smartcabs, said: "It's a nightmare. It is causing horrendous problems and bigger fares for customers.

"A journey that would normally take ten minutes is now taking 20 minutes and it is even worse at the end of the school day. We do school runs from Twenty and we have to go to Bourne to get onto the Tongue End road, which is notoriously bumpy."

Bus company Brylaine fears it may have to change its routes if roadworks continue.

Operations director Malcolm Wheatley said: "We were coping until Tuesday but then other roadworks we did not know about cropped up.

"Our round robin, which usually takes 20 minutes, was taking 40 minutes and more than an hour in some cases.

"If they continue to cause problems we may have to look at changing routes but it is difficult when there are so many roadworks."

Andrew Fowler, managing director of Fowlers Buses, said its school services are most affected by the Station Street closure and some are running up to quarter of an hour late at the end of the day.

Lincolnshire County Council highways is resurfacing the A151 between Guthram Gowt and Twenty, scheduled to be finished on Tuesday, with a diversion in place sending drivers via the A15 at Bourne and the A16 at Market Deeping.

There are lower speed limits in place in Barrier Bank, Cowbit, with work connecting the road to the new A16 expected to begin soon.

Anglian Water is responsible for work on a water main in Holbeach Road, Spalding, which should be completed by tomorrow.

But emergency sewer repairs in London Road, Spalding, are not due to finish until December 3.

Sara Rowland, Anglian Water spokesman, said: "Where we can we try and tie in with existing road schemes but when it is an emergency we need to get out there as soon as possible.

"We apologise if there is a bit of disruption."

The problem on Holbeach Road is said to be a small water leak which should be easily fixed, while in London Road Anglian Water engineers have had to excavate an area around a pipe in need of re-lining.