IT is day five into the nine-month project to rebuild the Spur Road and the council says work has “progressed well”.

But as the £22m project got underway on Tuesday, frustrated motorists questioned why 'nobody could be seen working on the site'. The council explained the first two weeks involved preparation work in areas of the site not visible from the road and mobile works along the length of the road where progress is also difficult to see.

A spokesperson said: “CCTV and average speed cameras have been installed, vegetation clearance is continuing, trial holes, radar scanning and setting out has been carried out.

“The water-main diversion is progressing well and the site compound entrance is being constructed, as well as the crossovers required for the contraflow.”

Yesterday saw the first full closure of the Spur Road on both sides of the carriageway, with work due to start at 8pm and finish at 6am today. The closure was set to be pushed back until later in the evening depending on the level of traffic.

The next full road closure is scheduled for Sunday, September 20, and Sunday, January 3. Tonight the road will be totally closed northbound from 8pm-6am, to allow the temporary resurfacing on the northbound carriageway north of the Blackwater junction.

And from September 21 until Christmas, the road will be closed southbound from the QinetiQ access, with a contraflow in place.

Since the work started, concerns have been raised over traffic management, particularly along Castle Lane East. Those leaving Royal Bournemouth Hospital faced delays of up to two hours and Dorset County Council officials met with highway authorities, emergency services and hospital representatives to review the situation.

Drivers are now being told the turn-off for the Royal Bournemouth is for hospital access only and new signs have been put up. Dorset Police has also agreed to monitor traffic and assist where possible.

The council spokesperson added: “We listened to initial concerns raised and have made some changes to the traffic management.

“We are still on target for the change in traffic management to contraflow on the northbound carriageway from Monday, September 21,” they added.

Portable variable message signs with real time journey information will be relocated to sites on the approach to the A338 once locations have been agreed with Bournemouth council and Highways England. There was a delay in getting the units delivered.

For updates, visit news.dorsetforyou.com/bournemouth-spur-road.