WORK to repair a weather-damaged main route through Christchurch will take place at the end of this month.

Highway teams from Dorset County Council will start two weeks of repairs and resurfacing on the A35 Christchurch by-pass, starting on October 26.

The work will take place between the Fountain roundabout and Stony Lane roundabout at night between 7pm and 5am with lane closures in place.

It will include resurfacing, barrier repairs, drainage, verge clearance, fencing works and tree surgery of storm-damaged and overhanging trees.

Residents and borough councillors complained about the state of the Stony Lane roundabout earlier this year following the extreme winter weather.

And while short-term repairs were carried out, highways officials promised more permanent measures were on the way.

In the first week – from Sunday, October 26 to Saturday, November 1 – work will take place on the dual carriageway, working from Fountain roundabout towards Stony Lane roundabout and then back down the other side of the carriageway.

From Monday, November 3, until the early hours of Saturday, November 8, work will focus on Stony Lane Roundabout, including texture- blasting of the approaches to increase skid resistance.

Cllr David Jones, county council member for Burton and Grange ward, said he was pleased the “badly-needed” work would be going ahead.

“The fact they have brought this forward shows how important it is.

“The inclement weather led to serious difficulties on the highway, which affects people not only in my ward but the whole of Christchurch.”

Cllr Peter Finney, cabinet member for environment and the economy, said: “We’re working at night to keep traffic disruption to a minimum, but there will be lane closures in place so drivers should pay extra attention during this time. The nature of the works means there will be some noise disturbance to residents living alongside the road and we would ask for your understanding and patience while we carry out this essential maintenance.”