Morebus is introducing changes to its timetable for some services in and around Bournemouth and Poole during the Gravel Hill roadworks.

The roadworks will start from 10pm on Sunday, July 24, for four months during which time the road will be completely closed. 

A spokesperson said: "Due to the complete closure of Gravel Hill we have had to change our timetables for our routes from Poole to Wimborne.

"We understand for our customers this is a time of concern so we have provided the most robust timetables and route alternations possible - in light of the major roadworks and heavy traffic causing delays for commuters across the region".

“The changes will apply to those travelling on our 3 Poole to Corfe Mullen, 4 Poole to Merley and 32 service from Poole to Winton - all of which are affected by the Gravel Hill roadworks.

The following changes will come into effect from July 24: 

Route 3 - Poole | Wimborne | Merley via Broadstone - Corfe Mullen

Route 3 will be extended from Wimborne to Merley, providing half hourly links between Merley and Wimborne, Broadstone and Poole that are normally provided by route 4.

Buses will serve Merley via an anticlockwise loop of Oakley Hill, Queen Anne Drive, Rempstone Road, Merley Gardens, Merley Lane, Oakley Straight, Oakley Lane and return to Oakley Hill.

An additional morning peak journey will be provided at the busiest time on Mondays to Fridays to assist with capacity.

Route 4 - Poole | Broadstone | Wimborne | Merley via Oakdale - Hillbourne

Route 4 will no longer be able to serve Gravel Hill, so the daytime Monday to Saturday service will terminate at Dunyeats Road, Broadstone.

During Monday to Saturday evenings, when route 3 does not operate, route 4 will extend to Wimborne and Merley via Corfe Mullen.

Buses back from Wimborne and Merley to Poole will operate via the quickest possible route i.e. via the by-pass and Corfe Hills School.

On Sundays, the existing hourly route via Corfe Mullen to Wimborne will be extended to Merley. The route that went via Gravel Hill will terminate at Dunyeats Road.

The half-hourly service between Poole and Broadstone is therefore maintained but the Sunday service between Wimborne and Poole is reduced.

Route 32 Poole | Bournemouth via Broadstone - Merley - West Howe - Winton

Route 32 will be rerouted between Merley and Broadstone via Higher Blandford Road, Lockyers Road, Wimborne Road and Wimborne by-pass.

Customers are advised that for the duration of the temporary 32 timetable due to the roadworks, English National Concessionary Bus Passes will be valid from 9.19am on the journey commencing in Merley and in the Poole-Bournemouth direction from 9.18am (Fleetsbridge).

Morebus is also introducing changes to its departure bays at Poole bus station from the same date.

For some passengers, this will mean they have to catch their bus in a different place.

Route 32 and route 128 will move from stand M to stand E; route 9 will move from stand E to stand G; and routes X6 and 11 will move from stand H to M.

Breezer routes 40 and 60 will move from G to H.

The spokesperson said: "We will be making sure signs at the station reflect these modifications but ask our customers to check before boarding buses here.”

“Our customer service advisors in the morebus travel shop are standing by to provide guidance and advice.”

For more information about these changes and for timetable details, please visit morebus.co.uk