ROADWORKS can’t be halted while the A338 project is ongoing, transport chiefs have repeated.

Their comments come after thousands of motorists were caught in traffic delays across the conurbation yesterday, caused by a combination of roadworks and crashes.

Traffic is very slow again around Hurn and Upton this morning.

Last week, Dorset County Council said they were unable to have a “complete embargo” on all work in the vicinity of the A338.

However, they said highways officers were considering every other application to carry out roadworks “with particular care.”

Their comments were supported by Cllr Peter Finney, Dorset County Council’s cabinet member for environment, pictured, who said: “I think the difficulty is that we can’t stop working on other projects while the A338 work is continuing.

“Utility companies and other authorities have to have access to projects and we have to let them do it.

“It would make our job easier to say you can’t do it, but this work needs to be done and can’t be put off.

“There needs to be a bit of give and take.

“There are nine months of works on the A338 and it’s going to cause disruption, we can’t avoid that.

“We try to manage it in the best possible way and we have people in place to manage this situation.”

He said when planning roadworks, efforts are made to minimise the disruption for drivers.

Commenting directly on the A338 Spur Road, he said: “We’re very pleased that people have taken our advice and reassessed their route.

“Apart from the main rush hour, things are ticking over well.”