DRIVERS on the A338 will see more lane closures and disruption as preparation begins ahead of improvements to Blackwater Junction later this year, part of a £20 million package of highways scheme.

Six weeks of work are set to begin on Monday, with the first three weeks resulting in a lane closure between Blackwater and Cooper Dean and a 40mph speed restriction.

Sections of the Wessex Way will be closed overnight between Tuesday, January 24, and Wednesday this week the road will be closed between County Gates and the St Paul's roundabout from 9.30pm to 6am.

The following night, between 10.30pm and 6am, the road will be closed between the St Paul's roundabout and Blackwater junction.

The maintenance roadworks are being carried out by Bournemouth council. Signed diversions will be put in place for the duration of the work.

Then from Thursday there will be daytime lane closures and a 40mp limit between Cooper Dean and Blackwater.

The second three weeks will involve work away from the highway while explorations for the Wessex Fields scheme are carried out. This is not expected to impact road users.

The work forms part of the second phase of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership's BIG Programme, which aims to ease congestion around Bournemouth Airport and Wessex Fields.

It comes after a lane closure on the dual carriageway this week led to long queues and delays of more than an hour for motorists.

The second phase of the LEP's programme also focuses on Chapel Gate, Hurn roundabout and Parley Cross as well as Blackwater and Wessex Fields.

And the preliminary works starting on Monday, will be delivered by Bournemouth Council in partnership with Dorset County Council.

This is ahead of major improvement to Blackwater Junction, along with a new on/off slip road providing access from the A338 southbound to an employment development site at Wessex Fields and a possible widening to the A338 Wessex Way between Blackwater and Cooper Dean.

Construction is set to start on the Blackwater Junction in autumn 2017.

Gordon Page, chairman of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership said: "We are pleased that the preliminary works at Blackwater Junction are underway.

"They mark the start of the second phase of the BIG Programme’s infrastructure investments tackling key pinch points on the A338 and B3073.

"They form part of a wider programme of much needed connectivity improvements around Bournemouth Airport and Wessex Fields which collectively will alleviate traffic congestion, transform accessibility for existing businesses, drive economic growth and open up new employment sites in Dorset.”