A STRETCH of Boscombe's biggest road has finally reopened to traffic after months of works.

Traders told the Daily Echo they'd seen an "85 per cent drop" in business since SGN started the works in Christchurch Road in September.

The road was affected between Hannington Road and Gloucester Road as engineers upgraded the gas network.

Traffic along the carriageway is so heavy that temporary traffic lights were in operation for 12 hours a day, rather than just during peak times.

Matt Betteridge, the owner of Bournemouth Pies, said he had fallen into debt as a result of the works.

"The roadworks are destroying the business," he said in October.

"There is no one coming in and no one can pull up."