THE average speed cameras along the A338 Spur Road are due to go live today – almost four months after they were due to be turned on.

Six average speed cameras have been installed on the dual carriageway to support the new permanent 50mph speed limit, which came into effect in August 2018.

Three cameras have been positioned on the southbound carriageway between the Blackwater Junction and Cooper Dean Roundabout, with three further cameras mirroring these on the northbound carriageway.

In January, Gary Powell, the senior responsible officer for work along the A338, said the cameras should be working within around a fortnight.

But after problems with the power supply, it hasn’t been possible to get the cameras working yet. They will go live today.

Some of the cameras will be used to clock drivers going over the temporary 40mph speed limit on the southbound carriageway between Blackwater and Cooper Dean until the limit is revised upwards again when work to the carriageway is complete in June.

All of the cameras will be managed by Dorset Police.

Gary Powell, the senior responsible officer for the A338 improvements, said: “The cameras will help make the Blackwater slip roads easier and safer to use as motorists travel at a consistent speed through the area.

“They will also help improve the flow of traffic.

“We would like to remind motorists to follow the speed limit and be mindful that the speed cameras will become operational at the end of the month.

“These are in place for the safety of our operatives who are working during the day, at night and at weekends to complete the improvements as soon as possible.’’

Depending on a variety of factors, such as speed and previous offences, the funds generated by speeding fines will go to one of two pots of money.

In cases dealt with by the courts and fixed penalty fines, the money will be sent to the Central Government Consolidated Fund for use by the government.

Fees paid by drivers able to take the Driving Awareness Scheme will go directly to ‘improving road safety schemes’, the council says.

Currently, nine months of work on the A338 are due to be completed at the end of June.

Until near the end of the scheme, there will be a series of overnight road closures to enable surfacing and barrier installation works to be carried out.

The good news for commuters is that both lanes of the Spur Road – north and southbound – will be fully open during the busy rush-hour periods from now on after reopening during the late May bank holiday.

However, those travelling a little later in the day might face delays as some closures may take place between 9am and 4pm.