DORSET County Council has been slammed for causing traffic misery for long-suffering commuters using one of the main routes into Bournemouth.

Angry motorists faced long delays last week as the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road was reduced to one lane each way over five days for repair work.

Some drivers reported snarl-ups lasting two-and-a half-hours.

Both lanes were open again over the bank holiday weekend, but there is worse chaos still to come, as the major work is set to begin on Sunday for 14 weeks.

Now, highway chiefs at the county council are being criticised for not doing enough to cut down on the predicted traffic nightmare.

Central Bournemouth councillor Bob Chapman says a temporary hard shoulder should have been built at the Blackwater junction, allowing the repairs to continue while keeping both lanes open in each direction.

The former leader of Bournemouth Borough Council argued: "There is so much clutter on the left-hand side with signs and grass, why can't they just put in a hard shoulder?

"If you put a hard shoulder on both sides of the road and tarmac the central reservation you could carry on the work as well as leaving four lanes open for the traffic.

"Why hasn't the county council put their hands in their pockets to pay a bit more to get the job done and put a stop to this traffic nightmare for people trying to get into Bournemouth.

"It is no wonder the shops are suffering in Bournemouth if they are blocking the main road into the town.

"I think the county council wants challenging why they are not doing the job properly and building a hard shoulder in the road."

He added: "But they are 30 miles away and sitting in their offices. They don't need to worry about the motorists here."

But David Gibb, head of highways client services at Dorset County Council, said building a temporary hard shoulder was not a "simple operation".

"We are all motorists here and all travel on that road and try to make every effort to ensure we cause as little disruption as possible.

"It is costing in excess of £1 million to do the works. Building a hard shoulder would be a very expensive task.

"If we were to take down the central reservation it would provide no protection at all for anyone working on the closed carriageway.

"We know the Spur Road carries a lot of traffic but they have enjoyed the road uninterrupted for 30 years and we do have to carry out work."

The main works include inspection and repairs to the dual carriageway bridge over the River Stour and the B3073 Blackwater Bridge flyover.

Slip-roads are also due to be resurfaced, and there is to be a revamp of the B3073 Hurn Road.

First published: September 2