MOTORISTS will be facing months of traffic "hell" as a main through road is shut for nine months next year.

Boundary Road will be closed from January to September 2016 to allow Network Rail to replace the railway bridge ahead of the electrification of the line.

The road however has been shut since July 31, causing traffic chaos in the middle of the town.

The closure of Boundary Road will be in place to allow Network Rail to divert utility services, ahead of replacing the railway bridge.

The second phase of the project, to replace the bridge before electrification, has meant the road will be closed again from January to September next year.

Councillor Billy Drummond, opposition spokesperson for highways and transport, said: "It is ridiculous. It is going to cause complete mayhem. It will be hell."

"I am really shocked, I do not know if there is much we can do.

"I feel really sorry for all the care workers and nurses and how they are going to be able to get out and get going in the day."

Cllr Drummond said that there was another bridge up by the jockey stables at the racecourse, which could be opened to help ease the traffic.

He said: "There is another bridge up by the jockey stables. They open it on race days. It used to be open all the time, however one day there was a lot of trouble that happened on it so they shut it unless it is a race day."

Cllr Drummond also raised concerns about the effect the road closure will have on the already heavily-polluted Burger King roundabout junction.

The junction was declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) by West Berkshire Council in May 2009 after the average nitrogen dioxide levels in the area were found to exceed government targets.

West Berkshire Council confirmed that the road will re-open for the Christmas period in November and December before it closes again in the New Year.

Martin Dunscombe, a spokesperson for West Berkshire Council, said: "We’re meeting with Network Rail next month to discuss their project but we understand that the bridge will be closed from January for around nine months.

"We’ll work to mitigate the impact of the bridge closure by ensuring that, for example, the diversionary route remains free of road works but it’s inevitable that while Network Rail replace the bridge there will be some disruption on local roads. It’s currently closed until the beginning of November and then will reopen for the Christmas shopping period."

However the council is ruling out the possibility of opening the new bridge from Hambridge Road to the Racecourse to allow traffic through because of an agreement between itself and Racecourse developer, David Wilson Homes.

Mr Dunscombe said: "The council has explored all options and done its best to mitigate the traffic. The traffic lights at the A339/ Kings Road/Bear Lane junction have been phased to give the optimum performance in the circumstances but the additional traffic makes some delays inevitable. We will continue to monitor and adjust where possible."

The council has also ruled out the possibility of opening up Northbrook Street during the day.

Mr Dunscombe added: "The council has a duty of care to all road users including pedestrians and road safety is a priority. Introducing traffic into the pedestrian zone would create too much of a risk to pedestrians, in particular, those who are vulnerable and those with mobility issues."