stuck in the middle

This is the main road North out of the town.  Behind me, at the previous roundabout, there's a BIG sign saying 'road ahead closed'.  Still they come. 

The same thing happens at the far end of the road works.  As I take this I can see, in the distance, cars queuing up to turn round.

The road works have been going on for a while now - something to do with the gas mains.  Until recently there were traffic lights at each end and so it was possible to get through.  And then a gas leak.  

So now the road - which spans the River Great Ouse (blipped here in flood) is completely closed.  Bad enough for people wanting to get through - it's a long way round - but right in the middle is the Old Toll House - (being an old toll house from the days when roads had tolls and people collected them). 

It appears that when closing the road, the contractors "forgot" about the current occupants, who are now stuck in the middle - possibly in a Gerry Rafferty way - clowns to the left ... jokers to the right - it all depends how they feel about it, I guess.  And how long it takes to repair the gas leak.