MAJOR queues are expected around a busy Bournemouth shopping centre as eight weeks of gas works begin.
SGN is to carry out a gas main replacement at the roundabout with Castle Lane West and Yeomans Road outside Castlepoint shopping centre.
Having started earlier this week, the gas company will complete the work in four phases, which are scheduled to end on November 24.
Heavy traffic is to be expected and diversion routes will be in place after the first phase ends in around a fortnight.
Currently, there is one lane closure eastbound of Castle Lane West to the traffic lights and this is expected to last for eight weeks.
From October 15 to 22, engineers will be working by the traffic lights at the junction of Yeomans Road exiting thew roundabout, meaning a full closure will be in place there.
Read more: Grandmother's birthday surprise in ruins after gas supply is cut off
Traffic will be diverted to Woodbury Roundabout and onto Hamblin Way, via Castlepoint.
The following week will see temporary traffic lights at Yeomans Roundabout exiting from Yeomans Road.
Eventually, from October 30 to November 24, temporary traffic lights will be up to stop vehicles turning left out of Yeomans Road.
A spokeswoman for SGN said: “Our engineers began work to upgrade the gas network in Castle Lane West roundabout, junction with Yeomans Road, on 2 October.
“There have been a number of emergency repairs carried out to this specific gas main and it now needs replaced before the colder winter months, as more people will be using our gas network to heat their homes.
“To avoid a complete closure of the roundabout, our engineers will be working in phases under lane closures and temporary traffic lights to help minimise disruption as much as possible.
“Our project is expected to take eight weeks to complete.”
SGN has previously been involved in disruption to the area this summer. In August, a grandmother’s birthday party had to be cancelled after workmen accidentally damaged a gas pipe while doing work in Castle Lane West.
The gas company apologised and said around a dozen homes in Castle Way had lost gas supplies due to the emergency repairs.
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