By: Express News ServiceNovember 18, 2025 08:11 PM IST 2 min readOngoing road re-carpeting work at Chandigarh's Junction No. 26 caused significant peak-hour traffic jams and commuter frustration due to diversions and poor signage. (File photo/ANI)Re-carpeting work at Junction No. 26, the intersection connecting Sectors 16, 17, 22, and 23 in Chandigarh, led to traffic snarls Tuesday as commuters struggled to navigate through diversions put in place by the traffic police.The police had earlier announced on X that the road repair would continue from November 5 to November 20, during which time traffic would be diverted to nearby stretches.However, despite the advisory, peak-hour traffic was significantly affected on Tuesday, particularly along the routes leading to Sector 22 market, Sector 17 bus stand, and the adjoining link road towards Madhya Marg. Traffic personnel were deployed to manage the flow; however, congestion persisted for several hours in the morning as several residents reported inconvenience due to the diversions.Juginder Kaur, a Sector 23 resident commuting towards PGI, said, “The usually short stretch took nearly half an hour today. The diversion signage could have been more visible, as many motorists appeared uncertain about the route.”Similarly, shopkeepers in nearby sectors noted a decline in customer footfall.Darhan Kaler, a shop owner in Sector 16, said, “Many customers contacted us to ask whether the road was accessible. A number of them decided to postpone their visit due to the traffic situation.”The current congestion follows similar disruptions reported on November 10, when re-carpeting activity and the construction of tabletop pedestrian crossings on various city roads resulted in bottlenecks and temporary diversions, particularly around key roundabouts in Sectors 35, 36, and 43.Story continues below this adThe traffic police, meanwhile, have urged commuters to adopt alternative routes and cooperate with officials deployed at the location.“Inconvenience caused is regretted; the work is essential to ensure long-term road safety and improved commuting conditions,” a traffic police officer said.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:chandigarhheavy traffic