A BUSY junction in Weymouth is to be made safer for those on foot.

But while the work to introduce a pedestrian crossing outside Morrisons, in Weymouth, is being welcomed, there are concerns the work will cause disruption as the season gets under way.

Dorset County Council has announced that eight weeks of work will start today on a £67,000 project to install a push button pedestrian crossing facility on Dorchester Road at the supermarket turning.

This is to ensure a safe crossing point linking Morrisons and the bus stop and residential areas on the other side of the road.

The crossing will be built into the existing light system on the Manor roundabout side of the junction.

Motorist Pete Smith has complained to the council about the phasing of the lights at the junction where drivers turn into Morrisons from the Spa direction.

He claims there is a problem with the filter light - which the council denies - and says drivers are being caught out almost on a daily basis.

Mr Smith thought the lights he complained about were being altered when he saw council signs announcing ‘traffic signal upgrade work’ but DCC says this is not the case.

Mr Smith said he welcomed the work to add a crossing but said the council "couldn’t have picked a more inappropriate time" to do the work.

He added: “It’s going to cause mayhem, there’s going to be tailbacks galore. They could have picked a quieter time.”

Borough councillors Bill White and Pam Nixon have been working together with locals to campaign for a crossing for years.

Mr White, who stood down as a councillor at the election, said: “Pedestrians have been taking their lives in their own hands crossing at various angles so they can get to Morrisons, it really is a tricky spot.

“I welcome this work and am glad our efforts have come to fruition.”

Pam Nixon said: “It’s a dangerous spot. I have seen people leaping over the railings to get to the bus stop.”

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: “We are putting pedestrian facilities on the existing traffic signals.

“This is as a result of requests by local residents and councillors.”

Work will last around eight weeks, with the activation of the new junction by Siemens complete by July 17.

About two weeks of work will be done without the current lights being turned off – but then three-way temporary traffic lights will be used.

The council said the work is part of a planned upgrade and it wanted it to be done before the summer season.