Council bosses have denied traffic chaos in Birmingham has been down to poor planning by the transport department as thousands of commuters endured travel misery this week.
Drivers were stuck for hours in miles of queues as major roadworks started on the M6 at Spaghetti Junction and in the city centre
Rush hour drivers were left to sit in long tailbacks around the junction six roadworks which started on Sunday as teams repair and waterproof four viaducts.
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Roadworks from the M6 slip road to the M5 at junction eight also caused travel misery for people driving through Wednesbury, West Bromwich and Great Barr.
Meanwhile, in the city centre, closures near Paradise Circus led to delays as drivers were diverted away from Great Charles Street and Lionel Street.
But insisted it had given residents plenty of warning of the possible disruption and advised people should cycle or use public transport whenever possible.
A spokesman said: "While it is impossible to carry out work on this scale without any disruption, we have taken steps to minimise this as much as possible, including advising people to consider alternative transport instead of a car or at the very least use an alternative route.
"The more people who use public transport, the fewer cars we will have on the road while these works take place."
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But Birmingham City Council denied the decision to undertake all the roadworks together suggested poor planning.
"Paradise Circus and the M6 works are both long-term projects and, as such, it is impossible to carry out this work at different times."
Chairman of the council's transport scrutiny committee Victoria Quinn said she would raise this week's traffic problems at the next committee meeting on Friday.
Tuesday saw the M6 closed in both directions at 9.30am to allow an air ambulance to land after a serious crash near Junction 5, adding to the tailbacks.
reported all bus routes were subject to delays across the West Midlands due to the roadworks.
Angry drivers took to Twitter to vent their frustration at city planners as diversions are planned throughout January.
"Traffic reports show how planners really have no idea of impacts of their decisions on people who work in Birmingham," said Chris Brothwood on Twitter.
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Cosmis tweeted the Highways Agency, asking: "Is whoever plans the roadworks around Birmingham drunk when they do so? Or is planning just something other people do?"
Ellen Pope tweeted: "Well done Birmingham - you've totally mucked up transport."
Stephen Jones added: "Everywhere around Birmingham has roadworks! traffic ridiculous gridlock."
The £5 million M6 project, run by the Highways Agency, is planned to run until July 31 with slip roads on the Salford Circus junction shut until work is completed.
In the city, there will be closures on Summer Row, Sandpits, Bridge Street and Holliday Street months.
The road restrictions will allow the first phase of the £500 million Paradise development including the demolition of the old Central Library.