Locals in Kenilworth are bracing themselves for another weekend of traffic chaos as the A46 shuts again - although there are hopes things will be easier than last weekend.

The first shutdown of the dual carriageway last weekend saw motorists queuing around St John's roundabout and the neighbouring roads as temporary traffic lights caused havoc and saw cars backed up along Birches Lane and Farmer Ward Road in particular.

The A46 will be shut again from Friday (14 February) until Monday morning, between Thickthorn (Kenilworth) and Coventry.

But this weekend there will be no traffic lights at St John's, nor will there be any traffic restrictions on Dalehouse Lane.

The February closures are a precursor to a three-week shutdown of the A46 later this year for a new bridge to be slid into place which will allow the new rail line to pass under the carriageway.

Last weekend Cllr Rik Spencer said he had the traffic lights on the roundabout removed after seeing the impact on the local road network.

Some motorists said they had to queue for over half an hour just to get across Kenilworth town centre (image via Cllr Andrew Milton)

Cllr Andrew Milton was also left unimpressed with the impact of traffic on residents.

"I witnessed for myself the huge problems caused yesterday," he told Nub News on Sunday (February 9).

"Warwickshire County Council's attempts at traffic management resulted in huge queues on Birches Lane, Farmer Ward Road and Leamington Road amongst others. 

"Given the sensitivity of the gyratory and its location in Kenilworth it was hugely disappointing to see a lack of visibility from highways staff monitoring the situation. 

Residents are already concerned about the upcoming three-week closure (image via Cllr Alison Insley)

"This was always going to be a difficult weekend for traffic which needed careful hands-on management. 

"I'm glad that eventually someone saw sense but leaving it down to locals to sort out the mess seems negligent. 

"Given that there are plans for a permanent signalisation of the gyratory I'd suggest an urgent rethink."

Diversions be in place again this weekend as the road shuts.

The official route will take local traffic is via the Bericote roundabout, along the A445 to Ryton-on-Dunsmore and then onto the A45 via the A423.

The official diversion in place for HGV's will take vehicles all the way around the edge of Coventry, onto the M6, M42 and then M40.

Traffic was backed up to the Thickthorn roundabout (image via Cllr Andrew Milton)

But Kenilworth residents took to social media last weekend to vent their frustration at the works and the impact on local roads as motorists still headed through town.

Some said they had queued for nearly half an hour along Farmer Ward Road and Birches Lane before the temporary traffic lights were removed.

One local said: "God help us when Cov road is shut for a month. Just needs a couple of other roads to be shut at the same time and there will be total chaos."

Another added: "Absolute madness to have those lights there this weekend."

Others pointed out the impact the three-week closure is likely to have.

"Just wondering what fresh hell that will bring on a working day if things were this bad on at Saturday!"