The second week of the nine-month Spur Road project is almost over and the full reconstruction of the southbound carriageway is due to start on Monday. Here are the questions you’ve been asking this week. For other questions go to our essential guide.

When did the speed limit come into force?

The 40mph limit came into effect when the signs went up – southbound Thursday, September 10 and northbound Tuesday, September 15. As soon as the signs were in place the 40mph limit is enforceable by the police even though the speed cameras are not yet all connected.

Why is the whole road coned off? (A.K.A Why can’t I see anyone working?)

DCC says: “We currently have a full lane closure on each side of the road as we have various preparation works to finish at various locations along both sides of the road.

“To have multiple work areas coned off (instead of one continuous closure) would cause multiple bottlenecks and merging situations which would further hinder the flow of traffic. It would also take longer for us to complete the works because of the need to constantly change the layout to carry out different sets of work.

“There are areas of the site not visible from the road where we are currently doing investigative work, which are not safely accessible without a lane closure.”

Why are you merging the lanes before Blackwater?

The council says: “We know how busy this junction is. For safety reasons, we have to get drivers filtered into one lane before they hit the work area – CCTV installation in this case.

“This layout will change when the northbound contraflow is in place, with southbound traffic able to filter off before the junction, but the same problem as now will exist for drivers merging from Blackwater onto the A338 contraflow (northbound)."

What work’s been done so far?

DCC says it’s digging trial holes, building access points and the cross over sections for the contraflow (that’s why they’ve dug up lots of the central reservation), removing litter, clearing trees and bushes, installing CCTV and average speed camera s and building the compound where all the material will taken to be recycled.

The northbound carriageway is also being resurfaced to ensure it can handle the extra contraflow traffic, and Bournemouth Water has also been diverting a water main.

What were those concrete things that caused the full road closure on Tuesday?

The concrete blocks were discovered when we came to dig out the central reserve for the contraflow crossover points.

Everything possible is being done to mitigate against unforeseeable events – carrying out radar scans and trial holes to locate services. Previous work undertaken also involved trial holes and test strips to know the construction of the road and what mix to use to rebuild it.

​Why all this fuss for resurfacing?

This is not a resurfacing scheme, it’s a full depth reconstruction with central barrier and drainage being upgraded.

Are you working 24 hours a day?

Wherever operations allow it we will be working during the night. Out of the first 15 nights of the project - from start of work until the start of the contraflow on Monday - there are only three nights not being worked.

How many people are working on site?

At the moment there are roughly 50 people working on site. This will increase to more than 70 when the planning and foam base operation starts at the beginning of October. [Note: the Echo is clarifying what a foam base operation is!]

There will be two shifts. The changeover of these will vary depending upon the type of work being carried out – some work can’t be carried out in poor light and we want to ensure material deliveries are made outside of peak times.

What happens next?

There are three overnight closures this week:

Friday, September 18 – northbound carriageway night closure 8pm to 6am

Saturday, September 19 – northbound carriageway night closure 8pm to 6am

Sunday, September 20 – night time full road closure 8pm to 6am (northbound and southbound carriageways closed)

Monday sees the start of the full reconstruction of the southbound carriageway. Sunday night’s full road closure is to finish creating crossing points at both ends of the road to allow traffic to cross to and from the northbound carriageway.

From Monday morning, you’ll be driving the northbound carriageway in both directions in a contraflow system.

Got more questions? Try our essential guide (and if the answer’s not there, ask in the comments and we’ll try and find out!