MOTORISTS are bracing themselves for possible delays when the next stage of a major £11.7 million engineering project gets underway in Poole town centre next month.

The Townside scheme, which is funded by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP) and the Borough of Poole (BOP), covers the area between Hunger Hill and Poole Bridge, including West Street and West Quay Road.

Under the first phase of the project, work to install new kerbs and alter footpaths and roads at the junctions either end of Marston Road has already been completed.

A new signal junction on Holes Bay Road at Sterte Avenue West has also been constructed, built to eliminate the future need for U-turns at Hunger Hill.

BOP head of growth and infrastructure, Julian McLaughlin, explained: “This phase of the work paves the way for Marston Road to become two-way when the main Hunger Hill roundabout is then reconfigured later this year.

“This is to allow more effective circulation of traffic between West Street and West Quay Road as originally designed in 2011.”

As the next phase of the work begins, engineers will be implementing an overnight road closure of West Quay Road and the Twin Sails Bridge on Sunday, September 16 and Monday, September 17.

This closure will allow the road to be resurfaced following kerb realignment and utility work.

Traffic will be diverted over Poole Bridge with signed diversions in operation over these two nights.

The three-year £11.7 million scheme aims to improve access from the Poole Port to the town centre, improve the Hunger Hill junction to make it easier to navigate and improve the public space for residents and visitors.

Two temporary bans on turns will be in place from October 7, to enable work to take place at Hunger Hill roundabout.

These are a temporary left hand turn ban from Hunger Hill roundabout to West Quay Road, and a temporary right hand turn ban from Hunger Hill roundabout to Towngate Bridge.

The improvement works at Marston Road will be followed by the Hunger Hill works starting in early October 2018.

Dorset LEP Director Lorna Carver, said: "This multi-million-pound investment into the Port of Poole’s transport infrastructure will not only safeguard important road and bridge routes but will also unlock economic growth into the region.

"Improving the Port of Poole’s infrastructure will secure industrial, maritime, residential and visitor growth and deliver significant long-term employment, housing and economic benefits.”