Roadworks on a busy Weymouth route are set to continue into next week to allow 'concrete to harden'.

Two-way traffic lights have caused weeks of disruption on Littlemoor Road, Weymouth as engineers from gas distribution company SGN work around the clock to repair a gas leak.

A 30-metre section of gas main, which the gas company said was damaged by a 'third party', could not be repaired and so needs to be replaced.

SGN has previously said that they hope to complete the work by Friday, January 19 - but have now revealed that whilst they hope to repair the gas leak by then, the traffic lights will not be removed until 'early next week'.

Dorset Echo:

This is for processes to restore the road surface such as allowing for the concrete to harden.

Waseem Hanif, spokesperson for SGN said: "We're continuing emergency repairs to our gas network in Littlemoor Road, Weymouth.

"For safety, temporary two-way traffic lights remain in place in Littlemoor Road, between its junctions with Louviers Road and Turnstone Close. The lights are needed so we can safely replace a section of our gas main.

"Following our initial investigation, repairing the gas main hasn’t been possible which means replacing the gas main is our only option - our engineers are replacing a section approximately 30m in length.

"The engineering work involved is challenging and the gas main we’re working on supplies gas to the wider area of Weymouth. The team will be keeping the gas flowing while they carry out the replacement, which means we have the added complication of needing to put in temporary bypass systems before our work can be completed.

"We aim to complete the replacement of the gas main by the end of this week, Friday, January 19. We will then need to restore the road surface. Several of the processes involved in this need a certain amount of time in between, such as allowing for the concrete to harden to ensure the road is reinstated to the required specification. All going well, we'll be able to reopen the road as normal early next week.

"We'd like to thank Weymouth residents and motorists for your continued patience and support throughout this work."