A community was given the opportunity to ask questions and find out more information about a major roadworks project which has caused delays.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) hosted an information session at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy yesterday to explain the four-month project which has started on the A354 Portland Beach Road and will be moving towards Wyke Regis.

Temporary lights are controlling sections as the work progresses.

The company is spending £2.6 million to replace 7 kilometres of electricity cable which supplies Portland.

The old cable, installed 40 years ago, is in need of replacement as it has been exposed by the stones on Chesil Beach, and oil has been leaking out.

The launch of the project last week caused traffic chaos, with motorists facing length delays due to the temporary lights set up on the road, however 238 metres of cable was laid, with work on target.

Design Engineer for SSEN Chris Smart said: “We have a commitment to remove the cable by the end of the year, and we want to protect the natural habitats whilst we work.

“We started the design last year, and completion (of the first phase) will be at the end of April, with more cable removed in September.

“It’s quite tough, it takes a while to get the project up and running, but we are on target, with 238 metres laid last week.”

Ron Curtis, a local resident who attended the session, said: “It was very good. The gentleman I was speaking to was excellent.

“I wanted to see the cable they are putting down, and they have explained what it is, including the voltage of the cable.”

The works are due to move towards Wyke Regis over the coming weeks.

The first phase of work will take four months before there is a break for the summer.

John and Dil Grant, residents of Langton Avenue, Wyke Regis, said: “It was informative for what we wanted to know.

“The letter only came through the post recently, and we saw online when the meeting was.

“They’ve been out marking the road, so we knew it was imminent.”

Project manager Miles Crossley said negative comments had been received about the hold-ups when work first began.

He said: “To hear the negative comments was hard.

“The guys are already working 12 hours a day, and it’s hard to ask them to do anymore.”

Mr Crossley added: “However it is going well, we are making good progress.

“On the first day there were a few queries, but since taking down the third set of lights, traffic has been moving well.”

Also attending was Lesley Saunders, who has previously complained about hold-ups.

She said: “I felt my complaint was answered, and I will mention it to Cllr Paul Kimber.”