DRIVERS are being warned to expect disruption when a major road resurfacing project gets underway next week.

The roadworks will last four weeks and will affect a busy stretch of Ringwood Road, from the Mountbatten roundabout to the Poole Lane roundabout.

Both sides of the dual carriageway will be resurfaced and a single lane traffic restriction will be in place on one side at a time.

Transport bosses have promised to carry out the most disruptive work outside of the rush hour but some congestion is inevitable.

Cllr Michael Filer, cabinet member for transport and technical services, said: “I’d like to assure motorists that we have planned these works so that they cause as little disruption as possible.

“Work is to be undertaken over a number of off-peak daytime and evening shifts which will minimise the impact on the high traffic levels that use this route.”

When traffic is reduced to a single lane, the speed limit on that side will be reduced to 30mph.

Throughout the four-week project, access will be maintained to all residential properties and businesses along this section of Ringwood Road and diversions will be put in place when the eastbound side of the carriageway is resurfaced.

Signs and electronic signboards will be placed in key locations along the route but drivers are being urged to consider possible traffic delays when planning their journeys.

The project is part of Bournemouth council’s Road Rescue programme. Cllr Filer said: “The Council’s Road Rescue programme has already delivered large scale resurfacing schemes across the borough and I’m delighted that this heavily used road will now benefit from improvements.”