CONTROVERSIAL roadworks on the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road will switch from the southbound carriageway to the northbound from Monday, November 23.

The work, to remove wildlife ahead of major reconstruction next year, has caused huge delays and brought criticism from traders and motorists.

They said the work was being done at the busiest time of year.

Dorset County Council said the switch would relieve pressure on businesses in the run-up to Christmas.

As a result of the switch the Spur Road will not be closed this weekend (Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22).

During the last fortnight short sections of the southbound carriageway have been restricted to one lane to enable the council to carry out surveys and verge clearance in preparation for a £26m refurbishment of the road next autumn.

The current work includes installing reptile barriers and clearing scrub vegetation from the verges, which is home to all six species of native reptile in the UK, which are protected under UK law. Two, the sand lizard and smooth snake, have additional protection under European law.

Works on the northbound carriageway will continue into the New Year, when they will revert back to the southbound carriageway.

Project manager David Diaz said: “While we accept that traffic will experience delays leaving the conurbation, amending the phasing of the work will cause less disruption for commuters and shoppers travelling to Christchurch, Poole, and Bournemouth at this busy time.”

Tony Brown, chief executive of Beales in Bournemouth, criticised the timing of the works.

Speaking about the switch, he said: “It will make it a lot easier going in but we will still have the same problem going out, except people are more tolerant if it is coming out.

“It should go some way towards helping things but I would still rather the works hadn’t started until after Christmas.”

He said he has had several meetings with the council to discuss the works and will continue to do so well into next year for the main refurbishment work.