MOTORISTS could face delays in the coming weeks as work begins on two roundabouts on the Dorchester bypass.

A 30-week project at the Kingston Maurward College and Dorchester Town Football Club roundabouts starts on Monday, with drivers advised to add extra time for journeys around the county town.

The Highways Agency scheme aims to reduce congestion on the route in the long term and will also see a new cycleway installed at the Football club roundabout to link in with the Weymouth Relief Road cyclepath.

The works will involve carriageway widening as well as replacing and improving road lights, signs and drains at the two roundabouts.

Measures will also be put in place to improve pedestrian crossing at the Kingston Maurward roundabout.

Alexis Wood, project sponsor for the Highways Agency, said: “The scheme starts on Monday so we will be putting in our site offices and people will start seeing things happening on site.

“The main element starts the following Monday and that is when we will put the traffic management in place.

“There are some bits of work that will be happening during the day, anything we can do on verges and that doesn’t impact on safety but the more difficult work will be carried out at night.

“We are hoping it won’t cause extended delays to people.

“We are leaving all the lanes open and just narrowing them.

“We would advise people to give a bit of extra time when travelling and planning journeys.”

More details of the scheme can be found at highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/28213aspx