Hundreds of frustrated commuters faced rush hour chaos yesterday after a Works & Engineering truck overturned and blocked Harbour Road.

The accident in Paget caused major congestion for at least three hours in the main arteries to Hamilton.

Last night another accident on Harbour Road once again frustrated commuters.

In the morning, traffic on Middle Road was backed up about six miles as far as Warwick. South Shore Road was also badly hit.

Many commuters alerted to the snarl-up on the radio decided to use ferries instead.

One motorist driving to Hamilton told : ?I turned around and drove to the Rockaway ferry stop. There were four parking spaces left. The ferry was coming across just as I arrived. Many people must have had the same idea. The ferry is normally not that full.?

Another commuter who normally catches the ferry to work said 110 people boarded the ferry at the Belmont stop at 8.15 a.m.

The accident occurred near Lower Ferry at about 7.10 a.m. yesterday.

Police said the truck was travelling east around a series of bends when the driver lost control as he tried to steer round a pedestrian.

The vehicle struck the nearside wall and overturned. The windscreen was smashed and the truck was scratched and dented, but the driver and passenger escaped serious injury. They were treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Police are investigating the incident.

One woman was stuck in her car for one hour near Eastwood Park in Warwick from around 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.

Another source said that traffic was heavy all the way up to the Warwick Gas Station on South Shore Road until after 10 a.m. ? three hours after the accident happened.

Harbour Road was closed until after 10 a.m.

Police were directing traffic at the Paget Traffic Lights at 9.45 a.m. but were not there at 10.45 a.m.

Car and truck drivers were delayed the most as some bike riders overtook traffic to get into Hamilton.

Police spokesperson Dwayne Caines said that heavy trucks were allowed on Harbour Road.

?Any vehicles are allowed on Harbour Road. Signs (prohibiting the use of heavy vehicles) would need to be displayed at the entrance of every major artery, and intersection of the road,? Mr. Caines said.

Director of the Transport Control Department, Kevin Monkman, said he was ?not familiar with any prohibition of trucks on Harbour Road. Generally my understanding is that any restrictions on the use of roads is made by an order of the Minister responsible for Works and Engineering?.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Engineering, Russell Wade, said the two men in the truck had been ?sent home to calm down?.

Mr. Wade said the truck was a cleaning truck that helped with pick-ups from residences, for instance during bulky waste days.

?The matter is still under investigation,? Mr. Wade said.