DRIVERS will be waiting anxiously to see the effect on traffic congestion when the A338 roadworks enter their next phase next week.

Three out of four sliproads at the Blackwater Junction will be closed from Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Tourism chiefs who blame the work for damaging their livelihoods say they still hope to bring forward the project's finishing date.

At the moment both southbound slip roads on the A338 spur road are closed, but on Wednesday the northbound slip roads will shut and only one of the two southbound roads will reopen.

But Dorset County Council insisted that the closure of three of the four slip roads would not add to rush-hour congestion. Highways chief David Gibb said: "We anticipate that with the northbound slip roads closed there will be around the same amount of congestion, especially as people find their way around the works.

"The morning journey should be easier for commuters to Bournemouth once the 'on' southbound slip road is open, and by the end of the month we'll be opening up the southbound 'off' slip road too, which will help people accessing Christchurch.

"We're pleased that the whole programme is progressing on schedule and next week should be able to give more details about reducing the programme.

"In the meantime we're trying to get the message out about the northbound slip closures so it doesn't come as a shock to people."

Mike Francis, chairman of Bournemouth Tourism Action Group, has blamed the roadworks for a fall in visitors to the town centre.

But he welcomed the news that the 14-week project was on schedule and said the group was still in talks to broker an earlier completion date than December 5.

"After meetings with the county council we are very pleased that things are on schedule and we look forward to working with them and seeing if we can get an earlier finishing date," he said.

First published: Oct 9