WORK to renew a water main is set to cause three weeks of traffic disruption in the heart of Bournemouth from this week.

Yelverton Road is due to close to through traffic from Thursday, October 16.

Sembcorp Bournemouth Water says it needs to replace the existing water main with a high-performance plastic pipe.

In a message delivered to nearby addresses, the company’s network development manager, Andy Hunter, apologised for the inconvenience.

He said: “We appreciate that there will be some disturbance while we carry out this renewal work but once complete it will avoid the need for further repairs in the street.”

During the closure to through traffic, Yelverton Road will become a two-way street for residents and vehicles on business deliveries, with access via Old Christchurch Road. The one-way system behind Beales will be reversed.

Water company employees will help anyone having difficulty with access.

The work will start at the Richmond Hill end of the street.

Once the new main is laid, it will be cleaned and tested over a period of around four weeks.

The replacement of pipes between the water main and the street boundaries of individual properties is expected to begin in early December and will not require road closures.