WORK on rebuilding the A338 Spur Road is due to be completed on schedule, Dorset County Council has said.

Nearly a week of night closures have been announced as the final phase of the ten-month works period continues, which is due to conclude at the end of May.

The works have been hampered by poor weather with a full week lost at the start of January, but Councillor Peter Finney, the authority’s cabinet member for environment, said the target date would be met.

“Our phase four work started as scheduled and is going well, so we are on track to have the road fully open at the end of May,” he said.

“The phase four preparation work is underway, with our focus on drainage and the central reservation widening, and the planning and laying operation will begin very soon.

“We appreciate the disruption our work has caused and we are grateful for your patience.”

The Spur Road will be closed overnight in both directions between the Ashley Heath and Cooper Dean roundabouts for six nights starting on Sunday, April 17.

These night closures, running from 8pm each evening until 6am the following day and concluding on Saturday, April 23, are to allow contractors to install a permanent central barrier on those sections of the road which have already been completed.

Engineers will also be inspecting the River Stour Bridge at Blackwater Junction where a feasibility study is under way for widening the bridge.

Bournemouth council is also to use the opportunity to carry out investigation work on the stretch of A338 between Blackwater and Cooper Dean.

The final phase of the works got under way on Monday, March 14, with the full re-opening of the Ashley Heath roundabout.

Much of the remaining work consists of stalling 6.2km of new permanent barrier between the carriageways, necessitating full closures at certain times, which is being completed at a rate of more than 140m per day.

At present drivers are in a contraflow for much of the length of the road with northbound traffic crossing onto the southbound carriageway.