RESURFACING on Poole’s busy Ashley Road is set to cause congestion for motorists when it kicks off later this month.

The works, which will last five days in total, will see STOP/GO boards controlling traffic on the main route, which will remain open throughout. Side roads off Ashley Road will be closed at points to allow resurfacing at the junctions.

The resurfacing marks the end of the Three Towns Travel project in Poole. This £12.1 million Department for Transport funded scheme has seen small travel improvements made along the main routes of the three towns.

Borough of Poole has also brought forward resurfacing works at additional junctions along the route in a bid to minimise disruption.

Richard Wilson of Ashley Road Traders said: “I think we’ll have to grin and bear it. The road definitely needs it and it’s going to look so much better afterwards.”

A number of temporary closures have been scheduled including Edward Road and Jubilee Road which will be closed at their junctions with Ashley Road on Sunday April 26. Works on April 27 and 28 will not require closures.

On Wednesday April 29 Chatsworth Road, Kipling Road, Cranbrook Road and North Road will be closed from 8am to 8pm to resurface Ashley Road from outside Harbour View Court to just past the junction of Cranbrook Road.

In addition Jubilee Road will be closed from Ashley Road to Norrish Road on Wednesday April 22 for one day only.

Borough of Poole said letters would shortly be delivered to directly affected residents and road users will be kept informed via the mobile Variable Message Signs placed around town. Morebus has also been advised and customers are advised to contact them for any possible changes to services during the work.

A Borough of Poole spokesperson said:“As we are coming to the end of the major improvement programme for Ashley Road, we have taken the opportunity to bring forward some road resurfacing works at other junctions along Ashley Road which are on our maintenance priority list.

“We recognise that this resurfacing work will cause some disruption to local residents and road users and would like to thank everyone for their patience during this period."