THE £3.9 million project to upgrade Poole's Gravel Hill has reached the halfway point, borough engineers say.

Tens of thousands of motorists have been forced onto diversionary routes since the work - part of a wider project to improve the transport corridor from the Port of Poole to the A31 - started in the summer.

Now engineering chiefs say they're well on track to re-open Gravel Hill by the end of November.

So far the works have included the removal of traffic signals and islands at Queen Anne Drive, relocation of utility cables, and the insertion of metal piles along the length of Gravel Hill to strengthen the embankment.

Borough of Poole engineering manager John Rice said: "This improvement scheme kick-started the £23.3 million investment in Poole’s infrastructure so it is important that we got off to a good start and continued this through the works programme.

"We are now currently half way through these works on Gravel Hill and are really pleased with how the works are progressing and the use of the temporary measures we have put in place to minimise disruption to road users."

The next phase of the programme involves the completion of the new kerbs and surfacing of the Queen Anne Drive junction. Major drainage work will also take place, prior to reconstruction of a section of carriageway and surfacing of the new shared footpath/cycle lane.

Mr Rice said: "Although some works may continue up until the end of January we are currently on schedule to re-open the road by the end of November. We would like to thank everyone for their patience during these works."

The Gravel Hill works have been funded through the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Dorset LEP chairman Gordon Page said: "It is encouraging to see that the works at Gravel Hill are making good progress.

"They form part of a series of much-needed infrastructure investments in and around the Port of Poole that will future-proof important transport networks and unlock economic growth into the region."