DRIVERS and bus passengers are facing extensive disruption in the coming days due to major road projects in Weymouth and Dorchester.

And questions are being asked why works on Chickerell Road in Weymouth – which will see the busy route closed throughout next week and parts of the town without a bus service – could not have been done at night.

Chickerell Road will be closed between the Fiveways junction and Westdowne Close from Tuesday to Saturday to allow for resurfacing work to be carried out by contractors for Betterment Properties which is building the Curtis Fields development.

It is happening during half-term week so there will be no impact on local schools.

But bus firm First Wessex said the closure will cause “significant disruption” for four of its bus services, meaning most of the west side of Weymouth will not have a bus service from Tuesday to Saturday.

Simon Newport, General Manager of First Wessex, said: “This closure will have a significant impact for our passengers and we do sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.

“We did ask the highways department at Dorset County Council to review the closure and hoped that it could take place at the weekend or overnight, which would lead to less disruption. Unfortunately they were unable to do so.”

Borough councillor for the area Gill Taylor understands the possibility of doing the works at night had been looked at, but it was thought this would take longer as well as cause disruption to residents.

Cllr Taylor also said that county councillor David Harris had asked for 'access only' signs to be placed either side of Westhaven and East Wyld Road to prevent them from becoming 'rat-runs' while Chickerell Road is closed.

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: “This closure is to facilitate the resurfacing works relating to the Curtis Fields development off Chickerell Road.

“We only close roads as a last resort to facilitate works and certain events. We understand the impact of these road closures on the travelling public and try to mitigate them as much as possible, but inevitably there will always be some disruption as a result.”

Betterment Properties was contacted by the Echo for comment.

Meanwhile, the Fordington area of Dorchester is to see disruption as a £370,000 project lasting approximately 17 weeks to upgrade the local gas supply gets under way next week.

High Street Fordington is to be closed for four weeks from Tuesday to allow work to be done by gas distribution company SGN. Signed diversions will be in place for through traffic, with access maintained for residents.

Engineers will then move to South Walks Road and Culliford Road North over the following 13 weeks.

There will be temporary traffic lights and parking restrictions on the two roads while SGN upgrades its gas pipes along them.

This work is on top of an ongoing project in Dorchester town centre to improve junctions.

Cllr Tim Harries, of Dorchester Town council, said: “I am sure the local citizens will approach it with their usual phlegmatic approach.”

SGN Engineering Manager Karl Durham said: “We’ve worked closely with the local authorities in planning this work and we will be doing everything we can to limit disruption during our essential project.”

Further details about the project, including a map of work areas, can be found on the website sgn.co.uk

Other roadworks in the area include ongoing works on Wyke Road, Weymouth, roadworks with two-way signals on Portland Beach Road from June 1-5, plus two sets of roadworks along the Esplanade on June 8.

*Roads will be closed in the Dorchester area tomorrow (Sunday) for the Dorchester Marathon. See our story here.

Bus diversions

Bus routes 3, 8, X53 and 502 will be unable to service large parts of the west side of Weymouth next week due to the closure at Chickerell Road, First Wessex says.

Service 3 will operate its normal route outbound to Westham estate. When returning to the town centre, it will turn right along Radipole Lane, right via Granby Way and then right again into Newstead Road. It will then return to its normal route at the Rock Hotel.

Service 8 will operate from the Rock across to Newstead Road. It will turn left on to Granby Way and left again to Radipole Lane, before re-joining the normal route at Fiveways. It will operate the same route in return.

Service X53 from Bridport will operate its normal route to Fiveways and will then turn left onto Radipole Lane and go via Granby Way and Weymouth Way, re-joining its normal route at Swannery Bridge. It will operate the same route in the opposite direction.

Service 502 from Littlesea will go along Radipole Lane, then Granby Way, Weymouth Way and onto Swannery Bridge. It will return along the same route.

A35 night closures

DRIVERS planning to travel at night along a section of the A35 between Bridport and Axminster are advised to allow extra time for their journeys over the next two weeks.

Work started last month to improve safety at the Hunters Lodge junction of the A35 near Axminster, and after the Bank Holiday weekend overnight closures will be in place as work steps up to complete the scheme.

The scheme will not only improve safety for road users, but also improve crossing facilities for pedestrians as the work will deliver reconfigured lane markings, a signalised pedestrian crossing, the installation of vehicle-activated signs in both directions, and a new, high-friction road surface.

Two weeks of full overnight closures on the A35 between Bridport and Axminster will start from Tuesday, May 30, and during this time, other routine maintenance work will also be carried out at various points along that section of the A35.

The closures will be in place from 8pm to 6am, with light westbound traffic diverted via Beaminster, Crewkerne and Chard, and an eastbound diversion in reverse. HGVs and caravans travelling westbound will be diverted from the A35 at Dorchester, via Yeovil and Ilminster, on roads more suitable for this type of traffic, and again with a reverse eastbound diversion.

While the overnight closures are in place, access will be limited to residents and their visitors, with the assistance of gatemen. All other traffic will be diverted.

The work is expected to be completed on June 16, in time for the summer holidays, and in the meantime Highways England advises drivers to plan their journeys and allow extra time during the work.

Drivers can get up-to-the-minute travel information by phoning the Highways England Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or by accessing the website: www.trafficengland.com