Traffic queues were slightly longer this morning while the streets around the affected areas were thronged with cars because motorists were looking for a way to avoid the chaos.

“I would advise against using an alternative route to try to beat the traffic,” said Sergeant Gove.

“When roadworks are in place a single diversional route is picked as the best available to cope with the volume of traffic being diverted.

“Quite often trying to find a shortcut is counter- productive.

“There are roads that people will always use to try to beat the traffic, but it’s highly unlikely to be a route nobody else has thought of taking.

“All you’ll end up doing is getting stressed out trying to get there quickly.

“People should be aware there are roadworks, adhere to the signs and speed limits and take care.

“I would ask people to plan ahead and take more time for their journey.”

Congestion was compounded today for commuters when a motorist collapsed at the wheel of his vehicle on the Myrekirk Road round-about on Kingsway around 8.20am.

He was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital by ambulance.

Temporary traffic lights in Dura Street for manhole replacement works were also causing hold-ups on the approach to the city centre, with vehicles backed up to the Stobswell junction.

Drivers approaching the Dudhope Roundabout by West Marketgait and Lochee Road were caught in tailbacks due to lane closures to make way for Virgin Media duct laying work, which will continue until Friday.

Temporary traffic lights were also causing tailbacks in Perth Road, west of Windsor Street, to accommodate drainage and surfacing works.

Resurfacing was continuing on the southern section of Glamis Road where the road is closed between Blackness Road and Perth Road for the next fortnight. Drivers were using the Glamis Road/Blackness Road roundabout to get to the northern part of the street, with temporary traffic lights having been installed at the roundabout.

Traffic was reduced to walking pace on the approach to Kingsway from Forfar Road — caused by ongoing work to upgrade the junction and the traffic lights at the Morrisons supermarket.

The work, which is being paid for by Morrisons, has forced the closure of the outside northbound lane of Forfar Road as workmen excavate and rebuild the carriageway.

Claverhouse Road swarmed with more vehicles than usual as motorists used it to get on to the Kingsway by travelling up Old Glamis Road and coming out at the roundabout.

Further delays are expected on Perth Road next week when part of it is closed so that a gas main can be replaced.

Scotland Gas Networks is set to spend £400,000 on replacing 1.4km of gas main and the works will result in a four-month closure.

This has caused uproar amongst politicians and councillors, with Dundee West MP Jim McGovern and West End Councillors Richard McCready and Fraser Macpherson condemning what they see as the ill-timed delays.

Next week, contractors Malcolm Construction Services will close the Kingsway between the Old Glamis Road junction and the Forfar Road junction, as well as Forfar Road up to the Claverhouse junction, to allow them to raise the height of the carriageway.

Kingsway will be closed from after rush hour and reopened at 6am every day.