NINE months of work on a new sliproad to the A338 Spur Road will start as soon as the current project is finished.

Motorists looking forward to the planned completion date in June will have no respite before construction starts on the Blackwater West sliproad.

Bournemouth Echo:

Map showing the proposed new A338 Blackwater West junction

The works will be carried out between June and March, the Daily Echo understands.

A new sliproad will take motorists from Hurn on to the A338, travelling towards Ringwood.

One source told the Daily Echo: "There is no doubt that with yet another nine months of work after the A338 is complete, there will still be continuing disruption to the local road network, especially in and around Hurn."

Tony Brown, chief executive of Beales – who criticised the disruption to trade caused by last year’s roadworks – said: “I think it’s incredibly disappointing that they’re planning to disrupt a second Christmas for Bournemouth town centre.

“I would have thought that the lessons learned from the disruption to Christmas trade last year would have stopped them.

“I don’t know whether it’s necessary or not but fundamentally to disrupt two Christmases on the trot is immensely disappointing.”

Cllr Daryl Turner, cabinet member for the natural and built environment at Dorset County Council, said: “We’re not happy with the disruption but it’s a necessary part of the process. It’s got to be done I’m afraid.”

Work started this week to clear land in advance of the Blackwater West works.

Vegetation and tree clearance will take around six weeks to complete and will take place in the area of the Blackwater West on-slip road, where there will be road widening and where the cycleway will be widened into the verge along Christchurch Road.

Screening will be put in place for local residents.

Gary Powell, head of highways and transportation and the senior responsible officer for the A338 improvements, said: “These works are being undertaken to improve cycle links in the area and to prepare the way for a new and improved on-slip at Blackwater West Junction. Unfortunately, with this sort of work, some inconvenience may be caused. We will remain in close contact with residents and will ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.’’

Motorists have endured lengthy delays since work on the Spur Road started in October.

The southbound slip road on to the A338 at Blackwater Junction is being extended and a third lane is being added to the stretch of road on the A338 from Blackwater towards Cooper Dean.

Contractors are currently in the middle of the second of three phases and work currently under way involves widening the road and work to the bridges. One southbound lane has been closed since the work began.

At the end of next month lane restrictions are set to move to the northbound carriageway and work on this part of the project is set for completion in June.