THE lives of road workers on the A35 continue to be put at risk by speeding motorists.

More than 150 motorists broke the 30mph speed limit through the Upton Bypass works - which are set to continue up until mid-April - in just one day.

Dorset Road Safe’s mobile enforcement cameras caught the motorists on Monday. One was even clocked driving through the 30mph coned off single lane at 54mph.

County Hall’s natural and built environment cabinet member Cllr Daryl Turner said: “The 30mph limit is there to protect our workforce whose ‘office’ lies within the works.”

The county council has deployed emotive signage along the roadworks showing a young girl with the words ‘My daddy works here. Please drive carefully and show respect’.

Cllr Turner explained: “We are using these signs to remind drivers that the speed limit is there for safety.

“As the difference to the timing of journeys is negligible, there is no excuse. I would ask drivers to adhere to these limits.”

After the Dorset Road Safe cameras were deployed to the roadside, to help reduce traffic speeds through the works, Travel Dorset tweeted: “Today 152 vehicles travelled through the site at more than 30mph, with a top recorded speed of 52 mph”

Figures show 222 road workers were injured in the UK during 2016.

The A35 Upton Bypass is currently down to one lane in both directions, after the second phase of the major bridge protection project started in mid-January.

Aside from the 30mph limit through the roadworks, there are also 50 mph limits on the dual carriageway on approach to the area.

Engineers are working to install concrete barriers to protect the A350 bridge piers in the verge.

It follows the first stage of work carried out in January, last year, to replace steel barriers surrounding the vulnerable ‘stiletto’ bridge legs in the central reservation with higher concrete ones.

The carriageways were also widened and realigned under the A350 overbridges.

The £1m scheme is part of Dorset County Council’s ongoing programme – following a change in national standards around eight years ago – of protecting bridge piers that could be demolished if they were hit by a large vehicle.

Speaking in December, Cllr Turner explained: “During our first stage of works, we had incidents of drivers speeding through the roadworks – putting everyone at risk – so Dorset Safety Camera Partnership will be regularly monitoring the site.

“We’re sorry for the inevitable inconvenience this work will cause but it is important that we protect the bridge piers.”