MOTORISTS are being urged to be patient amidst fears of tailbacks as two months of road works hit a major Dorset commuter route from Monday, September 5.

The £1.1 million major maintenance work to repair and improve 1.7 miles of the A31 between the Roundhouse Roundabout (A350) and the Blandford Road junction (B3074) will be carried out at night whenever possible but will affect the carriageway in both directions.

The A31 is the main route from Bere Regis, near Dorchester, to the M27 and M3 motorways.

Some of the work will take place at weekends and, while it is going on, traffic will be diverted via the A350 past Upton and the A349 past Broadstone. The work starts on Monday.

Highways chiefs insist it is badly needed and will benefit drivers for many years to come.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "The benefits of doing this work this year are quite significant.

"It will provide them with a route with a new, quieter road surface and will mean less regular maintenance and less disruption."

Work will also be carried out to improve drainage and reduce flooding.

Chairman of the roads and rights of way committee Captain Malcolm Leonard said: "We've delayed the project to a degree to avoid the summer period.

"It is likely to cause problems for motorists but unfortunately it has got to be done.

"I understand the frustrations of the community that have to go to work every day or try use it as a link road and am sorry but I would ask them to please be patient.

"The sooner we can get the job done the better it will be.

"I urge everyone to try to find alternative routes to avoid delays."

Locals were invited to a public exhibition to find out to what extent the works would affect them and ask questions of highways planners earlier this year.

First published: September 2, 2005