FACTORY workers who arrived late for work have blamed roadworks which they knew nothing about.

Staff at the Airbus factory were shocked on Monday when they found the Broughton slip road at junction 35a on the A55 was closed due to roadworks.

One worker, who was late for work for the first time in 13 years thanks to the closure, told the Leader there were no signs to warn drivers.

He said: “There were a lot of people who were late for work. I have been there 13 years and it is the first time I have been late.

“There are diversion signs, but it does not say were it goes. The whole thing has been a disaster.

“It has been a nightmare going to and from work and that is the view of the majority of people at the factory. I know they have to do work on it but they are not giving people enough time to find an alternative route.

“It is normally a 15 minute trip but it took me more than half an hour.”

Motorists are having to take the next exit off the dual carriageway for the Wrexham/Chester roundabout.

Broughton South councillor Dave McFarlane said he had spoken to Flintshire Council’s highways department about resolving the problem.

He said: “I did get stuck in it myself. I had a meeting at 1pm on Monday and I was late.”

Derek Kirby, head of highways policy for Flintshire Council, said: “There are no signs in advance of the sliproad at Dobshill because it is not part of the diversion route which is along the A55 to the post-house roundabout, Chester, returning along the A55 to the Broughton roundabout where traffic can access Broughton.”