Lane restrictions for construction caused massive traffic headaches for motorists on Shea Boulevard through Fountain Hills Thursday.

The repaving of Shea between Palisades Boulevard and the Scottsdale city line had traffic restricted to a single lane in each direction.

A number of minor accidents aggravated the situation, causing traffic backups extending as far east as the Beeline Highway, according to town engineering inspector Justin Weldy.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office reported responding to one accident involving a single vehicle that went off the road into a guardrail.

Weldy said he observed a couple of other minor incidents that may not have required MCSO response.

“It took three to four hours to get traffic cleared,” Weldy said.

Town Hall and the Sheriff’s Office reported receiving numerous phone calls from angry motorists stuck in traffic.

The traffic restrictions will carry over into Friday beginning at about 5 a.m. However, the Palisades to the Scottsdale city line portion of the work is expected to be completed by the end of the day Friday, barring weather issues, according to Weldy.

Mill and overlay work is also scheduled for the eastbound lane from Palisades to Fountain Hills Boulevard, however, a gas line installation project at Fountain Hills Boulevard may delay that work.