The closure of the A404 at the weekend caused traffic chaos for drivers.

The busy dual carriageway was closed in both directions between the junction with the A4155, just outside Marlow, and the Bisham roundabout, from Friday evening until early this morning.

It came as Highways England took away the Volvo footbridge for repairs.

Long queues were seen in the High Street and in Bourne End, Little Marlow, Cookham Bridge and even in Flackwell Heath, as drivers attempted to navigate around the closures.

Marlow’s historic bridge was also set to be closed over the weekend but it was revealed last week that it would, instead, be manned at all times by gatemen provided by Highways England to deter overweight vehicles from attempting to divert via the three-tonne weight restricted bridge while the A404 is closed.

But angry residents said the bridge was not manned and was “left open to abuse” by overweight vehicles diverted away from the closed bypass.

And Marlow Town Council said in a social media post that it had been “working all day complaining” to Highways England and Transport for Bucks about the “lack of action” on the bridge.

Mark Shaw, deputy leader and transport cabinet member at Bucks County Council said: “I have asked Highways England to investigate, as a matter of urgency, reports that promised traffic controls at Marlow Bridge failed to take place as agreed at the weekend during the closure of the A404 trunk route, and I’m awaiting their response.

“Once I receive it, I will then be in a position to best determine how the next planned closure of the A404 is to be dealt with.”

Highways England project sponsor Andrew Winson said: “We were pleased that we were able to open the A404 ahead of schedule this weekend after successfully completing the first phase of maintaining the Volvo footbridge and we will routinely review how everything went to help plan future phases of the work.

“Part of the plan was to have traffic marshals at the historic Marlow Bridge to help ensure that overweight vehicles did not use it and instead followed the signed diversion route.

“We are aware of reports that that the traffic marshals may not have been in place at all times: we are speaking with the teams working over the weekend to establish the facts.”