Traffic slowed to a crawl along major roads leading to Paterson Road yesterday after an oil spill led to jams that stretched as far as Novena. The southbound side of Paterson Road was closed for 13 hours, from around 4:00am to 5:00pm yesterday, to clean up the spillage and carry out resurfacing works, reported The Straits Times.

This caused delays of 15 to 40 minutes, frustrating bus commuters and motorists on their way to work.

Traffic signs along the Pan-Island and Central expressways advised motorists to use alternative routes.

A taxi driver, who declined to be named, said messages were sent via mobile data terminals to discourage cabbies from using roads leading to the affected stretch.

Orchard Road Business Association executive director Steven Goh said, "It is very unfortunate to have an accident like this happening on a busy stretch near Orchard Road. But we are glad the authorities took efforts to clean up the area so the inconvenience to shoppers was kept to a minimum."

When The Straits Times visited Paterson Road at about 5:00pm, workers were seen removing the cones placed along the affected stretch outside Ion Orchard.