WORK on Weymouth’s Olympic traffic lights may be extended into evenings.

Members of Dorset County Council’s cabinet were told that work on major roundabouts in the borough was on track.

But they were also told by Dorset County Council director for environment Miles Butler that the authority may look at extending working hours if possible.

The idea came as councillors heard an update on the £16million scheme to realign Weymouth’s transport network for the 2012 Olympics.

The Weymouth Transport Package includes replacing five roundabouts with ‘intelligent’ traffic light systems designed to help traffic flow from Weymouth seafront to Wyke Regis and Portland.

Mr Butler said: “Some disruption is inevitable. We are trying to cram an extensive amount of work into a short amount of time.

“It is affecting pretty much every junction in Weymouth.

“The traffic management is working pretty well.”

Mr Butler said that there had been problems, particularly in the Lanehouse Rocks Road and Lynch Lane area.

But he added: “Traffic flows have improved by 75 per cent.

“We are making sure we tweak the signals and management of the junctions.”

Traders and motorists had hit out at the delays when the work first started on June 7.

Businesses complained that they were losing out while motorists were stuck in hold-ups and residents complained about their streets being turned into rat runs.

The council said that it only received backing for the scheme from the Department for Transport in March and had to complete all of the work by July 2011.

Mr Butler said: “We are pushing on very well and we are up to plan at the moment.

“We may extend the hours of working when we come to some less noisy bits, resurfacing and so on.

“It is difficult when the work is noisy as people want to sleep.

“We will extend the working if we can.”

Mr Butler said that the council was aware of major events going on in the borough, such as the Spirit of the Sea Festival.

He added that they were talking to the business community and residents to make sure diversions work.

Council leader Angus Campbell said: “There is going to be disruptions with this amount of work.

“But the good thing is that we have got the money to do this.”

Weekend changes

SOME of the road layouts amended because of the traffic works will revert back to normal this weekend.

The changes will be made in preparation for the Weymouth Seafood Festival, which is part of the Spirit of the Sea Festival, taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Boot Hill will be open to two-way traffic while Hope Square will be closed to vehicles.

Dorset County Council strategic projects manager Matthew Piles said: “With Hope Square closed this weekend for the seafood festival, we knew that the only way to keep traffic moving in Weymouth was to open Boot Hill two ways.

“The temporary arrangements will be in place on Friday night and the one-way system will be reinstated later on Sunday night.”

Boot Hill will revert back to one-way traffic flow before the peak morning traffic on Monday.

Hope Square will also re-open for vehicles as usual on Monday.