AFTER a long day in a stuffy office, the last thing you want to do is join a queue of traffic. But it seems we're heading for a summer of misery when a major 10-week roadwork project to replace decaying gas pipes begins on Monday, affecting important roads into the city centre, including Friar Street, Sidbury, Commandery Road, Bath Road and College Street.

The city centre - already badly congested at rush hour - is expected to grind to a halt.

Highways chiefs have assured motorists that disruption will be kept to a minimum and diversions will be put in place.

Drivers are also being promised resurfacing work being carried out in Bath Road will be complete by Sunday, before the major works start the next day.

The resurfacing is being done close to the junction with Commandery Road, which will be used as a diversionary route when the gas pipe replacement begins in Sidbury, from Monday.

But another traffic headache emerged yesterday, when a water mains erupted in Bridge Street, damaging the road, flooding a flat and cutting off the water supply of more than 200 homes.

The road was reduced to two lanes, causing tailbacks and chaos for morning rush-hour traffic.

And with temperatures soaring, could the various roadworks lead to some of us getting rather hot under the collar as our journeys to and from work meet with delays and diversions?

Dr Gary Wood, a social psychologist at The University of Birmingham, said it was up to us not to let our blood boil.

"It's the age old adage, prevention is better than cure," he said. "You have to be stoic about it.

"Road rage is almost an automatic response. It always gets you when something gets in the way of you getting from A to B.

"It physically makes your adrenalin levels go up and you have an overwhelming need to do something to release those increased energy levels.

"But this burst of anger normally comes when something takes you by surprise.

"If people have enough warning about these roadworks then they can take control of the situation."

He advised people to plan different routes and avoid the area of the roadworks altogether, if possible.

"If you do have to go that way, ask yourself what benefit it will have if you get angry or upset by being delayed. Will it get you anywhere?" said Dr Wood.

"Getting angry will not exert any beneficial influence on the situation, it will merely raise your blood pressure and damage your health."

Instead of being angered by the traffic jams, learn to embrace them instead, added Dr Wood.

"Sometimes life throws these things at us and it's a good discipline to accept it," he continued.

"Plan for it, take your favourite CD or tape and play it in your car and try to choose music that is calming and relaxing.

"Sitting in silence will only mean you slowly getting wound up.

"By keeping rational about these things you're taking control of a difficult situation, which is empowering."

It's not just motorists whose blood is boiling. Businesses in Friar Street fear the roadworks could 'kill' trade during the 10-week period.

Alan and Hazel Dugmore, of The Pen Connection, said: "The last time they dug the road up we didn't get anybody in the shop all day.

"This is our livelihood. If people see the mess in the street, they're not going to come in here."

David Birtwhistle, of Birties of Worcester, added: "Our annoyance is increased by our recollections of the recent misery we endured with the road for more than a year while we all waited for the cinema to be completed.

"Presumably all that work, including the nice York stone paving, will now be destroyed."

Jane Taylor, spokeswoman for gas company Transco, which is carrying out the work, said discussions had taken place with businesses affected.

"All affected traders have been sent letters to explain what we're doing and we're finding out what special arrangements need to be put in place for deliveries," she said.

"We realise it will cause some inconvenience to motorists but ask them to bear with us."

Originally the works would have also coincided with the Worcester Festival and the Three Choirs Festival, which both start on Saturday, August 6, and are both massive tourist attractions to the city of Worcester.

Now engineers in charge of the project have agreed to stop working in Sidbury before the events begin.

Three Choirs chairman Paul Vaughan said: "To get orchestra vans, the BBC and choirs in we need a clear flow of traffic from the Cathedral to Junction 7 of the M5.

"It's just impossible if there are road works along that stretch.

"I think if news broke that Worcester was going to be gridlocked, our box office would undoubtedly suffer.

"We are sending out small slips of paper with tickets saying there may be roadworks and please allow more time for your journey."

Transco said work in Sidbury was due to be completed on Friday, August 5 - the day before the festival starts - but it would stop if it takes longer than expected.