PLANS have been revealed for part of the A338 Spur Road to be turned into three lanes - with work expected to take up to two years.

Just weeks after the completion of a nine-month resurfacing project, Bournemouth council has revealed it is now examining the options for major works between the Cooper Dean roundabout and the Blackwater junction.

The council is planning to come up with a range of proposals which will go out to public consultation, but construction looks set to start in 2018 and finish in 2020.

It is hoped that three lanes on each side will help ease traffic problems in the vicinity of Bournemouth Airport and the surrounding area and will also give better access to land around Wessex Fields.

Ian Kalra, Head of Transportation Services at Bournemouth council, said the work will form part of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership’s ongoing Bournemouth International Growth Project.

The project will also involve improved transport links from the A338 to the airport and a further phase to alter the junction north of the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

He added: “We are working with key partners to design a package of major highway improvement schemes on the A338 between Cooper Dean and Blackwater junctions to tackle traffic congestion and improve journey times to Bournemouth Airport and the surrounding area.

“This will comprise a series of works all aimed at facilitating better access to the airport area from the A338, as well as unlocking employment land around Wessex Fields.

“We are in the early stages of planning for this work, and our focus is to design a number of solutions and public consultation will be taken as part of the programme.”

Motorists have recently endured nine months of delays while a new, lower noise surface layer was installed on the A338 between Blackwater bridge and the Ashley Heath roundabout.

A one metre hard strip was also installed for emergency use and breakdowns, drainage has been improved, a new safety barrier installed and there are new road signs, cats’ eyes and road markings.

It is not yet known how the remaining stages of the work will impact on motorists.

Cllr John Beesley, Leader of Bournemouth council, said all phases of the work have attracted government investment due to the potential economic benefits.

“The works are to gain the maximum economic benefit for Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.”

Lorna Carver, director, Dorset of Local Enterprise Partnership, which has secured £79million for infrastructure projects in the county, said: “Following the successful completion of the BIG Programme’s major renewal of the A338, we’re looking at a number of design options along the B3073 corridor, including Chapel Gate, Blackwater junction and Hurn roundabout, to see which schemes will deliver best value and keep driver disruption and impact on business to a minimum. 

"The BIG Programme is a major economic growth plan focused on employment and development around Bournemouth Airport.  We expect to have a clear idea as to details of the BIG Programme’s next planned transport schemes by September.”