Motorists are facing delays and diversions now works have begun in Bury St Edmunds to install a new gas main for a brewing company.

Crown Street will be closed for two weeks in total from last Wednesday – and one driver said it took him at least 20 minutes to travel two miles as a result.

Greene King has employed Murphy & Sons Ltd to install a gas main from Crown Street – next to the brewery – to the Southgate roundabout, which is roughly a 1km stretch.

The work in Crown Street is the first stage of the project, which is expected to last for about 10 weeks in total.

Richard Goss, of Whiting Street, Bury, said: “Wednesday was the first day and I was caught up in it. There appeared to be great confusion among people trying to get into the medieval grid [in the town centre]. They are all one-way streets round here and the signing was totally inadequate.

“And for people wanting for example to go into Bridewell Lane it involved a very poorly-signed diversion.”

He said the diversion took drivers to Parkway and past the fire station.

“It took me at least 20 minutes and it must have been two miles,” he said, after experiencing the delays at lunchtime on Wednesday.

Michael Ely, 68, of Crown Street, said: “We just have to put up with the road closure, I’m afraid, for two weeks.”

But he added: “At least we have got some peace and quiet.”

A spokesman for Murphy said: “Advance notification letters have been sent to all residents and businesses in the area surrounding the planned road closure, allowing them to better plan their journey.

“Traffic management is in place detailing alternative routes for road users.

“During the installation of the gas main works, Murphy is putting every effort into carrying out the work safely, efficiently and with minimum inconvenience to the local community.”

From the autumn Greene King will start using medium pressure mains gas, which it says will be better for the environment. It currently uses light fuel oil to run its boilerhouse.