MOTORISTS are being warned of extra disruption on the A338 Spur Road while a new emergency access gate for Bournemouth Airport is installed.

From 8pm tonight until 8pm on Monday, there will be right-hand lane closures in both directions between Blackwater and Ashley Heath. The road will be reduced to one lane for around one mile, and there will be a 40mph speed limit within the lane closures.

Announcing the works yesterday, Dorset County Council’s highways team apologised for the short notice and the delays that will be caused by the works.

A new emergency access gate for the airport, which was installed during the nine-month A338 Spur Road rebuild, has now been deemed “inadequate”. The gate, which looks like a metal central barrier, is sectioned and double-hinged to allow emergency services from the airfield to cross over the carriageway.

The £22 million project to rebuild the entire length of the Spur Road finished in May last year.

A spokesperson for Dorset County Council’s highways team said: “Despite discussions with all parties during the project, after the gate was installed it came to light that it wouldn’t allow rapid access to an air incident.

“Although the new gate was ordered, it has taken time for the gate to be delivered and to find the best time to install it, avoiding the summer months and busy weekend festivals.

“There’ll be a ‘fast lane’ closure on both sides of the carriageway roughly half way between Blackwater and Ashley Heath. Including the lead in and out of the works area the road will be reduced to one lane for around one mile.

“Sorry for the additional disruption and delay this work will cause – please allow extra time for your commute on Monday morning and evening.”

They said lanes would have to be closed throughout Monday “to ensure the safety of drivers while the concrete sets”.

Dorset Waste Partnership will be using the lane closures on Saturday to carry out a litter pick.

More than 100 roads around Bournemouth will be closed or have restricted access for this weekend’s marathon festival. Major roads including Christchurch Road and Southbourne Coast Road will shut at different times on Saturday and Sunday.

A spokesperson for Bournemouth Airport said: “We will be working closely with Dorset County Council to facilitate a rapid crossing for emergency vehicles across the A338. The work is entirely funded by Dorset County Counil.”