A MAIN route leading to Bournemouth town centre will be shut from next week as maintenance work is carried out. 

Wimborne Road on the south side will be shut from Rushton Crescent to the traffic lights at Cemetery Junction from Monday, November 13. 

Wessex Water will be carrying out maintenance work on the sewage network and putting in new manhole covers. 

Drivers will be taken down a diversion route to East Avenue Roundabout, continuing on Wimborne Road to the traffic lights at Buffalo Bar in Winton.

The route will then take drivers right along Alma Road and right again onto Charminster Road before heading back to Cemetery Junction. 

The road closure is in place until Sunday, November 19. 

It is anticipated the closure will bring much disruption once again to Bournemouth traffic, particularly during rush hour. 

Morebus has said it is affecting a number of its services, including routes m1, 5, 5a, 6, 6a, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 32, 737, U1, U3 and U4. 

The bus company said routes 6, 6a, 12, 17, 32 and 737 towards Bournemouth will all serve the Alma Road stop at Winton Banks instead of St Luke's Church. 

Stops at East Avenue and Stokewood Road will be missed.  

Routes 13, coming from Wimborne, will miss Moordown and Winton completely, instead diverting from Westover Retail Park, serving a different stop in Castle Lane West. 

Buses will go up West Way, Charminster Road and back to Cemetery Junction. 

U1 routes from Talbot Campus, meanwhile, will go towards Alma Road at Winton Banks (Buffalo) and Stokewood Road, then continue non-stop to Wellington Road for Cemetery Junction. 

It will then head to Dorchester House, calling at stops on Wellington Road.   

Morebus’ other university route, the U4, will call at Talbot Manor as normal then run directly to Bournemouth town centre and will avoid Cemetery Junction or Lansdowne on the way.  

The next stop after the diversion will be Bournemouth Square on the Central Gardens/Tesco side, with additional stops outside Boots and the library. 

Morebus apologised for the disruption which will be caused, adding: “Unfortunately, these works are out of our control.” 

Wessex Water also apologised and insisted the closure is to ensure the safety of the public and workmen.