MOTORISTS should expect delays as work begins to install a new pedestrian crossing on a major Poole road.

A puffin crossing is set to be installed in Commercial Road between the Civic Centre roundabout and Ashley Cross near Buckholme Towers School and Nursery.

The work has been planned over the two-week Easter Holiday – starting on Monday, April 10 and finishing on Friday, April 21 – in an attempt to ease disruption.

It will include excavating footways to install a power supply, pole sockets and paving slabs, then excavating a trench across the highway for ducts to contain the power supply and communication cables.

Following these works the signal equipment will be installed and the highway which approaches the crossing resurfaced and road markings repainted.

During the work there will be two-way traffic lights in place between 9.30am and 4.30pm.

There will be no work on Good Friday or Easter Monday.

According to Borough of Poole some preliminary work will take place during the February half-term.

A spokesman from the council said: “The new crossing will provide a safe location for pedestrians to cross this busy section of highway.

“The nearest alternative crossings are at least 180m away at Civic Gyratory or Commercial Road/Parr Street Junction.

“This crossing provides a missing link on an existing walking route to and from Danecourt Road/North Road and beyond and from Sandbanks Road.

“Commercial Road is very busy which is why the works are not being undertaken at peak times during the Easter Holidays.

“If works were undertaken during term time then not only would there be excessive noise adjacent to the school, the hours that the operatives could safely work would be restricted to 9.30am to 3pm due to clearing the area ahead of school pick up times.”