MOTORISTS were bracing themselves today (Sept 6) as the dreaded road works began on the A338 Spur Road.

The works, for essential maintenance say highway bosses, will see the closure of the slip roads at the Blackwater Bridge junction and the B3073 Hurn Road, meaning traffic will be unable to join or leave the Spur Road.

Diversions via the Cooper Dean roundabout, Castle Lane East, Barrack Road, The Grove and Hurn Road will be set up. The road works are scheduled to last 14 weeks and expected to cause long-delays.

Contractors began placing cones in position on Sunday and long traffic queues were already building up by mid-morning.

One motorist took 40 minutes to make the six mile journey from Ringwood into Bournemouth. He said: "It was bad enough on Sunday morning so I hate to think what it's going to be like at the height of the rush hour."

Alternative routes into town are also expected to be jammed as drivers try to avoid the spur road.

First published: Sept 6