THE Canford Bottom roundabout revamp has run over budget.

Original estimates for the nine-month project were totted up at £5.6 million.

But three weeks after the new look ‘hamburger junction’ on the A31 opened, bosses have admitted it has cost taxpayers nearly £2.5 million more.

Ongoing overnight closures are trying residents’ patience and many drivers say the six-arm junction is still a headache to navigate.

Dorset County Councillor for Colehill , Cllr Janet Dover, said: “I asked the project manager for a final cost at the last liaison meeting.

“We were all a bit shocked.

“That is significantly more than we were led to believe it would cost in the beginning.

“I don’t think it will go down well with people given their current disenchantment with the roundabout.”

Bosses told gathered businesses that overspending included wooden fencing around Hen Best Close and removing lizards from the old roundabout, Cllr Dover said.

Cllr Dover said she had received a ‘significant number’ of calls since the fully-signalised junction between Ferndown and Wimborne re-opened.

She said: “There are concerns about people not knowing where they are going when they’re on the roundabout, especially when cars are covering the lane markings.

“I’ve had emails about near misses where drivers have been confused and crossed in front of people.

“It’s difficult really, and I must say I have found it not the easiest to navigate myself.”

Two crashes and 14 complaints have been recorded since Canford Bottom opened on Tuesday, June 26, the Highways Agency say.

A spokeswoman said added costs included reducing the closure period from 12 to seven weeks and underground services that forced design changes.

Engineers had also discovered ‘soft spots’ that needed to be excavated, she said.