EXTENSIVE water works will see disruption on a major Weymouth route for the next six months.

Businesses and residents along Dorchester Road say they are concerned about the issues it could cause.

Junctions from Dorchester Road to Icen Road, Spa Road (oneway road closure eastbound), Monmouth Avenue and Weymouth Bay Avenue will be shut for 24 weeks.

The works will begin on September 12.

Wessex Water is spending roughly £400,000 to replace old water mains which are prone to bursting.

The work will involve replacing the ageing mains with plastic pipes.

In an attempt to minimise disruption, the work is being carried out in sections, and Wessex Water is aiming to finish the work by the end of February 2017.

Traffic lights will be used from Manor roundabout to the junction with Milton Terrace in Dorchester Road. The traffic lights will be manually operated from 7am to 7pm to help ease traffic flow.

Design engineer Alan Marler said: “Our essential work will provide customers with a more reliable supply and help to further improve water quality.

“We apologise for any traffic disruption the work may cause and thank motorists and local residents for their patience and cooperation while this work is completed.”

Aidan Stark, 21, who lives on Dorchester Road, said: “Last time there were roadworks it was like hell for the car. When it’s busy here normally I can be sat there waiting for 10 minutes, but when the roadworks were here recently I would sometimes have to sit there for 40 minutes waiting to get out of my driveway.

“I work at a nightclub and last time it made me late for work. I usually come home in the morning and sleep, so the drilling’s going to disrupt me constantly, especially during the Christmas period when I work every day.”

Dave Johnston, director of Auto Maintenance on Monmouth Road, said “It’s going to seriously affect business. Why can’t they do it out of business hours like they do elsewhere? It’s unnecessary disruption.”

Wessex Water says it plans to use an “innovative dig technique”

to help complete the work as quickly as possible.

Ian Roebuck, councillor for the Radipole Ward, said: “They are replacing the central water main for that road and it’s got to be done.

“There’s no way you can do that without causing disruption.

“They are not going to close the road, they are going to use traffic lights and are doing the work in the off season.

“It needs doing and it’s needed doing for quite some time.

“I don’t see the point of pretending we can get on without it.”