PART of the A338 Wessex Way will be closed during off-peak hours over three days while work takes place to protect the road from developing potholes.

The “essential” work, which is part of a wider £337,000 road maintenance scheme, will start on Tuesday ­– less than a fortnight after the major Spur Road project was finally completed.

A protective coating will be applied to the northbound and southbound sections of the Wessex Way between the Cooper Dean flyover and the Springbourne roundabout.

The slip roads leading to and from this section of the A338 will be closed, and a signed diversion will be in place between 9.30am and 4pm. The slip lanes for access to King’s Park and from Queen’s Park South Drive will also be closed off during the work.

A temporary advisory 20mph speed limit will be in operation for 24 hours between the surface dressing being laid and the sealant being applied to keep all the chippings in place.

Cllr Andy Hadley, BCP Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “We appreciate this is immediately after disruption for the recent A338 widening work, but this maintenance work is essential.

“Every effort has been made to avoid the main summer holidays and peak rush hour working and to complete the works within one week.”

Sections of the Wessex Way will also be closed overnight from County Gates to the Cooper Dean flyover on Monday, July 15, and Tuesday 16 so grass cutting and litter picking work can be carried out. From around 8.30pm on the Monday the whole road will be shut from County Gates to St Paul’s Roundabout, and the northbound side will also be closed from St Paul’s to Springbourne roundabout.

Then, on the Tuesday night, the northbound carriageway will be closed from Springbourne to Cooper Dean and the southbound carriageway from Cooper Dean to St Paul’s.

Other roads to undergo surface dressing work this month include Fontmell Road, Whitchurch Avenue, Badbury Close and Turnworth Close in Poole and the A337 Highcliffe Road in Christchurch.

From 8.30am to 5pm on Monday, July 8, and Tuesday 9 there will be phased closures on the above four roads near to Darby’s Corner in Poole.

Steepleton Road and pedestrian access will be unaffected and access via the junction to Gravel Hill will be maintained throughout the works.

And from 9.30am until 4pm on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 work will take place in both directions between the Somerford and Hoburne roundabouts on the A337.