Weeks of works on one of the main diversion routes from the A338 rebuild started yesterday.

Transport chiefs at Dorset County Council are warning drivers to steer clear of Parley Cross ahead of roadworks at the busy junction, which started at lunchtime on Monday.

After a series of major delays across the conurbation this week, motorists have been warned to expect further disruption when work takes place at Parley Cross, Ham Lane and on the A348 Ringwood Road in Ferndown this month.

Work on the A338 Spur Road has led to heavier traffic and delays on alternative routes, with many drivers stuck in traffic at Royal Bournemouth Hospital for more than three hours on Wednesday.

Roadworks on Wick Lane in Christchurch, which is continuing until October 11, have also caused gridlock.

Work to install a new gas main on the A347 New Road will start today, lasting for a week.

Described by the county council as 'essential roadworks', the work will mean 24 hour lights, operated manually from 7am until 7pm.

A spokesperson from Dorset County Council said: “The temporary lights should be up around lunchtime, between midday and 1pm.

“They didn’t need to start work first thing, which meant rush hour traffic wasn’t affected this morning, but they will be in operation every other day of the roadworks.”

This road is part of the official diversion when the A338 is closed overnight. There are due to be northbound closures on Monday and Tuesday.

On October 12, work will start on Ham Lane, west of the double mini roundabouts near Haskins, to install a new gas main.

This work will be done in two phases - from October 12-20 and then from November 2-December 24.

Both times, the traffic lights will be operated manually 7am-7pm to reduce congestion, with Southern Gas Networks, who are doing the work also told to work weekends.

And from October 19, until December 7, there will also be work on the A348 Ringwood Road, to improve access to the development near the existing M&S.

It will take place at night, from 7pm until 7am with two-traffic flow during the day.

A spokesperson for Dorset County Council said: "Drivers should steer clear of Parley Cross and Ham Lane if possible while a series of essential roadworks are going on.

"We can't have a complete embargo on all work in the vicinity of the A338 while that work is going ahead but we are considering every other application to work on the highway in that area with particular care, refusing ones that can be delayed and mitigating in every other case.

"For example, we may insist developers work 7 days/week to reduce the time they are on the highway, or to manually control the lights to balance the traffic flow."

Reacting to complaints from motorists on social media, a blog post from the council added: "Many companies have a right to carry out work on the highway, maintaining our water, gas, electricity, telecoms services, and we have a duty to facilitate the work happening.

"It’s better to work together with the various companies to plan and schedule work rather than have a lot of emergency work undertaken – where there is little room for negotiating working hours etc."