HIGHWAYS chiefs are closing a section of Verwood’s main road for four weeks – and in the process diverting motorists almost 10 miles out of their way.

The section of the B3081 will be closed from February 6 to February 26 between 8am and 4pm weekdays between the B3072 Home Farm Road roundabout in Verwood to the B3078 Wimborne to Cranborne road junction.

Dorset County Council is advising motorists, many of whom use this route to access the schools in Cranborne or to travel to Wimborne, to take an alternative route via Three Legged Cross and Horton that will add up to 10 miles to their journey.

Residents, school buses and emergency service vehicles will be allowed access through the road closure but should expect some delays.

During the carriageway resurfacing works on the B3081, the side roads leading to Woodlands and Edmondsham will be closed to traffic.

A council spokesman said that from February 2 the carriageway would be sectioned off and an inlay carried out between Home Farm Road and Romford Bridge.

Traffic will be managed under a stop-and-go system.

And once the road is fully closed to traffic from February 6, Romford Bridge westward will be overlaid with new material and a higher skid-resistant surface will be laid on the bends at Sutton Holmes and Remedy Oak.

The works will see closures on a section of the Horton Village Road and Stanbridge Narrows.

Phil Abbley, design engineer for highways at Dorset County Council, said: “The road is officially closed under the temporary traffic regulation’s act but during the works every effort will be made to allow access through the affected area for residents, school busses and emergency vehicles.

“Residents may experience some delays as work is taking place but where possible they will be able to pass the works.”

Of the diversion route, Mr Abbley said: “When a road is closed it is Dorset County Council’s policy to divert to roads of the same, or higher, standard as HGVs and large vehicles cannot access the smaller roads.

“For safety reasons these vehicles must be diverted along a route of a similar standard.”