MOTORISTS will soon have to tackle a diversion more than six miles long as a result of a 75-metre road closure.

A portion of New Barn Road, just south of Abbotsbury, is to close from Monday, February 20 to allow for five days of roadworks.

Approximately 75 metres of the road will be closed to allow for ‘trial holes’ to be dug ahead of the repair of an underground tunnel.

As a result motorists will be diverted 6.4 miles along the B3157, Bramdon Lane and Rodden Lane.

Dorset Echo: Map of the road closure (red) and diversion routeMap of the road closure (red) and diversion route (Image: Dorset Council Highways)

The road was originally set to close between January 23 and January 27 but the start date was delayed with work now expected to be complete by Friday, February 24.

As previously reported, a spokesperson for Dorset Council Highways said: “The works are around a culvert (underground tunnel) under the highway, which is in poor condition. 

"We need to locate the services running over the culvert and their depths underneath the highway to work out the best solution.

“Therefore, working with a specialist archaeological contractor, we are digging one metre deep engineering and archaeological trial holes, the latter of which are needed in case there are archaeological deposits around the culvert.”