A KEY road in Dorset will close five days to upgrade a sewer – and the official diversion route will take drivers on a 38.4-mile trip around the county.
A 350-metre stretch of the A352 in Longburton, based its junctions with Bradford Lane and Church Close, will be shut to allow Wessex Water to carry out the maintenance.
The road will be shut in both directions from Monday, May 17 until Friday, May 21.
Wessex Water said the road closure will allow its maintenance crews to safely carry out essential maintenance to upgrade the sewer network and ‘protect the environment’.
A spokesman said: “This is essential work to upgrade our sewer network and protect the environment, starting on Monday, May 17 for five days.
“We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by the closure, which is necessary for the safety of road users and our workforce.”
Travel Dorset has published the official diversion route online, which will take approximately nearly an hour to follow and sees drivers travel past Sherborne and into Yeovil, Somerset.
Residents and businesses in the area have also been notified of the roadworks and subsequent road closure and diversion route which also will be signposted.
To bypass the road closure, drivers must head north-west on A352 for almost two miles before turning left onto Ottery Lane/A352 and continue to follow the route.
Motorists will continue straight onto A30 Babylon Hill in Yeovil before driving straight onto A30 Queensway.
From here, drivers should follow the road and take the second exit at the Horsey Roundabout onto A30 Hendford Hill.
At the roundabout, motorists need to take the first exit onto A37 Dorchester Road before using the second exit at the next roundabout.
Drivers will travel on the A351 for 16 miles and take a left onto Weir View and then continue onto West Hill and onto A352 North Street in Charlton Down, near Dorchester.
Motorists must continue to follow the A352 for around 12 miles.
Dorset Council say the reason for the length of the diversion is because the closure is on an A-road and therefore any official alternative route must use the same class of road.
Alternatively, there are a number of shorter but unofficial routes that drivers can take to avoid the road closure. These are not suitable for HGVs and should be avoided if using larger machinery.
Dorset Council warns that any person who breaches the road closure could be convicted or face a fine not exceeding £1,000.
Anyone with any concerns or wish to discuss any issues regarding the roadworks can contact Dorset Council online via http://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/roadworks/enquiries
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