MORE traffic misery could be on its way for people living and working in Weymouth and Portland.

Overnight resurfacing works will go ahead on Portland Beach Road from Monday which are due to last for three weeks.

The works will take place Monday to Friday between 6pm and 1am under ‘stop and go’ boards.

Some businesses that operate during these hours are concerned about how the road works might effect trade.

Ali Marasli, who owns Costcutter on Portland Road, said the works would ‘kill business’.

He said: “Whenever there are road works along here the shop is dead.

“At night time people usually come in after work and do their shop, but nobody will stop if it’s busy.

“It will kill the business.”

Manager Pete Walburn from Daniels Fish and Chips, next door to Costcutter, agreed with Mr Marasli that business would drop when roadworks took place nearby.

Mr Walburn said: “Last year when Portland Road was resurfaced business was down by about 50 per cent.

“If there’s a long line of traffic caused by these works then people might not come in.”

Wendy Archer, who works at Fresh Bites sandwich bar also on Portland Road, said she had mixed feelings about the resurfacing works.

She said: “We are pleased that the council are doing it at that time because it means it won’t effect us but I think a lot of the work they are doing now could have been done at night.”

Ron Spree, owner of The Ferrybridge Inn, said commuters and tourists would be worst hit.

He said: “The holiday makers will find it hard getting back to Weymouth from Portland or back to Portland from Weymouth if they’ve been out for the day.

“It will hit people who work in Portland but live in Weymouth and vice versa, as well.”

The road works, to resurface Portland Beach Road between Ferry Bridge and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, will start on Monday and last for three weeks until Friday, July 23. Tim Munro, county councillor for Portland Harbour district, said: “Every effort is being made to keep disruption to a minimum, which is why the work is being done in the evenings.”

During the works the drainage system will be cleaned out and the existing road surface will be stripped off and replaced.

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said that it is ‘anticipated that no work will be carried out at weekends’.