COUNCIL officials have urged motorists to "plan ahead" as the latest stage of the A338 improvement work gets underway next week.

Engineers will begin a series of works to Blackwater Junction East this Monday, September 4 as part of a bid to reduce traffic congestion around the area.

Improvements to footpath and cycleway facilities and the drainage system have already started on the Christchurch side of the junction.

The programme of work is backed by the Bournemouth International Growth Programme and funded through the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.

Motorists using the existing Blackwater Junction often face lengthy delays extending onto the A338 Spur Road during peak times.

Officials hope the work will alleviate the congestion improve journey times and ease traffic flow.

Co-ordinated by Bournemouth Council working in partnership with Dorset County Council, the improvements at the east junction are expected to take around nine months to complete. The works will include re-configuring the east junction on the B3073 along with the construction of additional lanes.

From this Monday, night works will begin between 8pm and 6am, with closures of the sliproads for the A338 southbound and the nearside lane on the A338. Diversion signs will be in place.

From September 11, there will be a lane closure in place on B3073 westbound during daytime off-peak hours.

The closure will be in place between 9.30am and 5.30pm to allow for the construction of a wider road on the north side.

This will continue until the end of September.

From the end of September, works will take place on the west side of the junction, involving the construction of a retaining wall to allow the widening of the road.

This work is due to be finished in November. There will be lane closures during off-peak daytime hours from 9.30am until 5.30pm during this time.

From November, works will take place on the B3073 westbound involving the construction of a sheet-pile training wall.

Three-way temporarily traffic signals will be in place from 9.30am until 5.30pm during this part of the works.

Engineers will later reconfigure the west junction, and the slip roads on and off to the A338 will be improved.

Ian Kalra, Bournemouth council head of transportation services, said: “We know Blackwater Junction is a part of an important commuter route and there is never going to be an ideal time to carry out works on such a heavily used road.

"During the works, we would encourage all motorists who use Blackwater Junction to plan their journeys by allowing extra time to travel, or take an alternative route.

“We would like to assure the travelling public we have developed the construction programme carefully to ensure that the works that have the most impact on traffic will be undertaken outside of peak travel times.”