Traffic at the Interchange Retail Park has ground to a standstill this afternoon, with some customers reporting taking two hours to get out of the car park.
Eyewitnesses stuck in the traffic chaos have advised people to avoid the area.
Bedfordshire Police have confirmed that the gridlock is a result of the B530 road closure in Kempston Hardwick.
Read: ‘Much-needed’ repairs to B530 near Kempston Hardwick to begin
Shopper, Alice Gadney, told the Bedford Independent, “I arrived at 11.55am to collect something from The Range and saw a local school teacher as she was packing her car to leave.
“Half an hour later I came out of the shop and saw she was still sat in traffic waiting to get out.
“It’s taking about two hours to get out of the car park. It’s packed and the pollution is awful.”
Beds Police have sent officers to the scene to get the traffic moving.