A stretch of the busy A351 through Sandford is to be closed one-way for 12 weeks in the new year, just months after a five-week closure.

Wessex Water needs to lay a new sewer at Sandford but the work could not be carried out at the same time as the county council closure in September.

During heavy rainfall nearby homes and the main road have been flooded and the new sewer will protect them from a one in 20 year flood risk.

To allow the water company to carry out the work safely and as quickly as possible the A351 will be closed to traffic travelling towards Lytchett Minster, from Monday January 9 for 12 weeks.

A diversion agreed with Dorset County Council’s highways department will take traffic travelling towards Poole north via the B3075 Morden Road, east along the A35 to join the A351 at the Bakers Arms roundabout.

Traffic travelling towards Wareham will go as normal along the A351.

“We are aware that the work in Sandford follows a recent five-week closure of the A351 between the Baker’s Arms and Holton Heath roundabouts for resurfacing and culvert repairs by the county council,” said Jonathan Barker, Wessex Water’s project manager for the scheme.

“While the county council and Wessex Water make efforts to co-ordinate works whenever possible in order to minimise disruption, on this occasion we were unable to carry out the work at the same time as it would have been detrimental to local businesses by effectively cutting off the Holton Heath trading estate.”

Wessex Water is urging anyone travelling towards Poole along the section of the A351 during the new year to allow extra time for their journey, but stressed that motorists travelling in the opposite direction would not be affected by the work.

“This is one of a number of schemes that we are carrying out to reduce properties and open spaces across our region from being at risk from flooding following storm events,” said Mr Barker.