THE leader of Dorset County Council has said that peak hour delays caused by the A338 roadworks are now more than four times shorter than at the beginning of last week.

Responding to a letter from Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns, Cllr Rebecca Knox said that she was “optimistic” that disruption would continue to reduce despite being “very concerned” about the amount of congestion and “public dissatisfaction” surrounding the Spur Road scheme.

She said that the 90-minute delays recorded on the first day of the roadworks had reduced to 20 minutes a week later and that options other than the current system for carrying out the work were “very limited”.

However, Mr Burns said he was “disappointed” by her reply.

Work to construct an additional lane on the southbound Spur Road between the Blackwater junction and Cooper Dean roundabout started last Monday, with one lane closed by contractors.

The project is not expected to be completed until June.

Commuters complained of delays of several hours in getting through the closure and travelling on surrounding roads with county council data showing peak time delays of 90 minutes.

Following widespread criticism of the scheme from motorists, Mr Burns wrote to the county council calling for a rethink on the roadworks and to consider installing a contraflow.

However, Cllr Knox said that a northbound lane closure would cause “significantly greater issues”.

“It is unavoidable that when lane closures are put in place traffic queues of varying lengths will occur,” she said.

“In the case of this scheme, it is imperative that we ensure wherever possible that northbound traffic is maintained at two lanes.

“Should we reduce this to single lane working, we will see significant queues forming back to Cooper Dean roundabout and beyond which will result in blocked junctions and cause the hospital, and Bournemouth as a whole, significantly greater issues.”

Data recorded by the county council shows that 90-minute peak hours delays experienced on Monday, September 3 had reduced to 20 minutes by the following Monday.

A meeting between councillors and council officers was held on Tuesday where it was agreed to put up further signs on alternative routes and to carry out a “fundamental review” of the scheme’s communications plan which is being led by Bournemouth council.

However, Mr Burns described the response as “disappointing” and that those “suffering the consequences” of the delays “did not want” a review of communications and would rather see a review of the roadworks.