HOSPITAL patients are being urged to allow more travelling time for appointments during a nine-month project to rebuild the Spur Road.

The Royal Bournemouth Hospital is anticipating traffic delays on the A338 when it is reduced to one lane in both directions, as well as extra congestion on other key routes.

It is also likely that access in and out of hospital car parks, which is already difficult at peak times, could prove even more problematic.

The roadworks start on September 7 and will go on until the end of May 2016.

They will affect a five-mile stretch of road between the Ashley Heath roundabout and the Blackwater junction and will see one side of the dual carriageway closed and rebuilt, while the other side is used as a contraflow with a 40mph speed limit.

Letters are being sent to all patients who are due to come in to hospital after September 6 urging them to allow extra travelling time for appointments or to seek alternative modes of transport, such as coming to hospital by bus.

Patients that are delayed and miss their appointment time are being warned their appointment may be postponed to another day.

Hospital staff are also being urged to think ahead and start making alternative travel arrangements, including cycling or using public transport if possible.

The information leaflet to staff states: "We are presuming the work will affect both our sites - the Royal Bournemouth Hospital as we are so close to the A338 and Christchurch as we think people coming from the east may try and divert through that area."

And during the project, we'll be bringing you all the latest news and travel information at bournemouthecho.co.uk/a338.