DRIVERS were hit with a double whammy of motoring misery on Thursday with roadworks and a blaze causing chaos on two major commuter routes.

Motorists were caught up in congestion caused by work on the busy A338 Bournemouth Spur Road as lane closures began north of Blackwater Bridge.

And drivers faced traffic chaos in Poole on Thursday night after Old Wareham Road, near Tower Park, was closed during the evening rush hour.

Travellers found themselves in queues up to an hour long following a fire in a domestic garage.

Some delays had been expected on the A338, where a 40mph speed limit will be in force while a contraflow system operates on a three-mile stretch of the southbound carriageway.

The same speed restriction is being applied on the northbound carriageway which will be completely closed to allow resurfacing, drainage improvements and the removal of roadside vegetation.

Dorset County Council had advised motorists travelling between Bournemouth and Ringwood to use the A31 and A348 through Ferndown to avoid delays.

The council claims major repairs are now needed to extend the 40-year-old road's life by another 20 years.

Ringwood businessman Jeremy Berg told the Echo how the roadworks had made him late for a dentist's appointment.

"The journey from Ringwood to Bournemouth should have taken 10 to 12 minutes. I left early, allowing double that time, but it took me half an hour to get from the Ashley Heath roundabout to Blackwater junction.

"I noticed a sign warning of roadworks but didn't imagine there would be such chaos.

"Local people would have gone down Matchams Lane to avoid the delays but I discovered traffic lights had been put there, with roadworks running at the same time. It's crazy.

"My head office is in Ringwood but fortunately I don't have to do the trip to Bournemouth every day. I feel sorry for the people who do."

Another angry Echo reader said: "It took me 50 minutes to go from the Ashley Heath roundabout to Blackwater junction.

"It was solid traffic from the roundabout, the queue was very long and slow going even before I hit the roadworks."

Dorset County Council's highways manager Richard Bastow said: "Preparatory work started, as planned, last Saturday in readiness for the main works which will get under way on Monday.

"From then we will start digging out sections of the northbound carriageway which will have to remain closed while all traffic will use the southbound carriageway. We are still on target to complete the work by April 4, in time for the Easter holidays.

Organisers of this weekend's Rallye Sunseeker said they had been informed about plans for the roadworks weeks ago.

Clerk of the Course Rick Smith said they had been assured that the dual carriageway would be kept clear for Friday and Saturday.

The event attracts almost 100 rally crews, as well as up to 30,000 spectators on Saturday.

Mr Smith said: "We were informed of the roadworks some time ago and have been in discussions with Dorset police. It is crucial that the road is kept open on Friday when crews arrive and on Saturday evening when the cars finish the event in Ringwood Forest before returning to the town centre."