Commuters faced a nightmare journey home when a gas leak forced the closure of part of the A27.
The Sompting bypass, already down to one lane because of roadworks, was closed from Lyons Way to Busticle Lane yesterday afternoon.
Workmen punctured the main during excavations, according to the Highways Agency.
Police closed the road at 3.20pm and set up diversions were set up for motorists travelling east out of Worthing.
A spokeswoman for gas firm Transco said a medium gas main, between 6in and 10in in diameter, had been damaged.
Engineers arrived to inspect the damage and the road remained closed until 7.30pm.
The closure had a knock-on effect on the A259 coast road, which became gridlocked eastbound.
Motorists' tempers became frayed as they waited in the gridlock. Some made desperate attempts to get out of town using the pavement or going the wrong way up one-way streets.
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