WORK is now underway to add a fourth arm to the Boundary Road roundabout in order to connect it with a new link road.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the scheme - part of a programme of investment by Bournemouth University - aims to alleviate traffic around the Talbot Campus.

Highways authorities have now given engineers the green light to proceed with six weeks of works.

During the works, the roundabout will be connected with the link road, which will take motorists directly to Gillett Road.

Over the course of the past six months, engineers have constructed a new bus hub and widened Gillett Road.

The road route around the campus is also under construction.

The approval for the next phase of work has been hailed as a "significant milestone" for the campus improvement programme by Jim Andrews, chief operating officer at Bournemouth University.

Mr Andrews said each phase of work will "combine to improve traffic flows around the Talbot Campus and the local area."

"These improvements will benefit not just students, staff and visitors to the university but the general public, including those who use the BU bus network across Poole and Bournemouth," he said.

"The work to the Boundary Road roundabout is another important stage in the development of the university’s estate.

"We are aware that there may be short term impact to members of the public and have planned to minimise this as much as possible but we hope that the long term gain of traffic alleviation created by the link road will bring benefit to the community.

"We would like to thank members of the public for their patience while these works are completed."

Work began on Monday, November 6.

During the first week, engineers carried out work at night, with traffic management in place between 8pm and 6am.

Pedestrian routes were not affected.

Between November 13 and 24, work to the roundabout will take place between 8am and 5pm.

The roundabout will still be in operation, with both lanes open.

A temporary protected pedestrian footpath will be in place in the carriageway.

The pedestrian access alongside Tolpuddle House will be closed off during this period and pedestrians diverted to access the campus further along Wallisdown Road.

From November 27 until December 8, further works will be carried out at night. Pedestrian routes will be operational during these weeks.

All pedestrian routes will be fully reopened and traffic management cleared away in the sixth week, which starts on Monday, December 11.