Six months of roadworks at Chapel Gate start next week (and here’s exactly what’s happening when)

The £1.5 million project, part of the Bournemouth International Growth (BIG) Programme, are likely to result in traffic queues along Parley Lane and by Bournemouth Airport at certain times.

However the ultimate goal is to cut congestion in the area.

From Monday, Dorset County Council engineers will begin setting up the site, with construction work under way by the end of the week. It is not expected to be concluded until December.

Dorset County Council's plan for the Chapel Gate roadworks - Click here to see a larger version

A council spokesman said the work would be "largely ‘off-line’, meaning we’re building next to the road rather than within the road".

"We will need to use temporary traffic lights for some elements of the work, but these will be off-peak between 9.30am and 3.30pm," she said.

"We’ll try to give you advance warning of when these will be in use to help you plan your journeys.

"There will also be some night work, where temporary lights will be used to control traffic – we’ll keep you updated on when this will be."

The £45 million BIG Programme is intended to boost business investment around both Bournemouth Airport and the Wessex Fields site, with changes also made to junctions at Blackwater and Parley.

At Chapel Gate, the first phase of work, lasting until August, will see a new left turn lane created on the south eastern side for traffic from Hurn, while the second phase, lasting until October, will see a new approach lane to the Aviation Business Park created on the north side.

Later, lanes approaching from the business park will be widened, and new 'islands' created between them. The works include resurfacing and the creation of new cycleways.

Work at Blackwater East Junction will run between September 2017 and June 2018.