AFTER an hour and a quarter, the winner of Saturday's London Marathon had run about 15 miles. In the same time yesterday, Jennifer Burdon from Wilberfoss travelled just eight: and she was in a car.

However, her car was on the A64 at Grimston Bar, a length of trunk road that these days too regularly resembles a car park.

Hundreds of motorists like Jennifer were left to seethe in the tailback caused by cone-happy contractors. By extending the lane closures earlier than scheduled, they turned a grim commute to work into a wretched one.

Every motorist would applaud the workers' eagerness to get on with the job, but in this case their haste meant less speed. Or, for long, frustrating stretches, no speed at all.

The contractor, Amey, today apologised for its mistake. It has re-briefed its project team.

Ultimately, of course, the Highways Agency is responsible. It too has been commendably honest about the blunder, and we must hope that it is not repeated.

But motorists will be wondering what more they have to suffer. For six months they have faced long delays and the problems are set to go on for weeks more.

No one argues with the goal of the roadworks, to improve safety and save lives. But there are question marks over how this project has been planned and managed.

The size and scale of the jams seemed to take both the city council and the Highways Agency by surprise last year. And the promise made before Easter that the end of the contraflow would reduce congestion proved premature. After the change, motorists found themselves stuck in seven-mile queues.

That was predictable: half the road remains closed, despite the end of the contraflow. Until all lanes are reinstated, the jams will continue.

The Highways Agency must ensure that everything is done to keep the traffic moving as the work continues. Gridlock exerts too high a cost, both on York's economy and on driver's stress levels.

Updated: 11:02 Wednesday, April 17, 2002