Dorchester Road in Weymouth is closed in both directions as part of a resurfacing programme that will target 53 sites across Dorset.

Work is being carried out between 9.00am - 4.00pm until 4pm on Friday, January 18.

Delays are predicted for motorists travelling to and from Radipole school and Wey Valley school on Thursday and Friday afternoon this week.

The closure is in place from Elwell Street to the A354 Manor Roundabout - traffic is being diverted via the A354 relief road to A35 trunk road, Martinstown, Upwey Village and Littlemoor Road and vice versa.

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said: "We’re doing our best to maintain access to properties and schools, though there will be delays depending on the operational situation on site.

"On Thursday and Friday we’ll be working on the road between Littlemoor Road and Manor Roundabout.

"During the afternoon school-run, parents needing access to the Wey Valley Campus should come down Dorchester Road from the Littlemoor Road junction.

"Parents needing to access Radipole School should use Spa Road / Radipole Lane.

"Access is being arranged for school buses".

Work is also being carried out in Bridport from Victoria Grove to Pymore until tomorrow.

In Lyme Regis, work is now underway on Sidmouth Road from the Devon boundary to Cobb Road junction and is due to be complete on Thursday.

According to the county council, Dorset Highways has three resurfacing gangs out on the roads until March, when the project is due to finish.

Councillor Daryl Turner, Dorset County Council's cabinet member for the natural and built environment, said: “Last September, Cabinet approved additional money to go into highway maintenance and we’re now seeing this funding in use alongside extra money from the Department for Transport.

“There’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into investigating road damage and designing the right repair to maximise our resources – trying to fix as many defects as we can with the money available.

“The next three months of work will make a significant difference to the condition of our road network and will feed into our other programmes of work, such as surface dressing”.

Here's the resurfacing programme for January

Victoria Grove to Pymore Bridport 

daytime work January 14 -16

Sidmouth Road, Lyme Regis (Devon boundary to Cobb Road junction)

daytime work January 14 - 17

Dorchester Road, Weymouth (north of Manor Roundabout)

daytime work January 14 - 18

Fulbrooks Lane, Bridport 

daytime work January 17

Denhay Lane, Broadoak

daytime work 18 Jan

Belfield Park Ave, Weymouth

daytime work January 21

Chelmsford Street, Weymouth

daytime work January 22

Knightsdale Road, Weymouth

daytime work January 23

Kingston Russell to Roman Road

daytime work January 23 - 25

Blandford Road, Corfe Mullen

daytime work January 25 - 28

Hereford Road, Weymouth

daytime work January 28 & 29

Redwood Road, Upton

daytime work 29 Jan & 30 Jan

East Weare Road, Portland

daytime work January 31

Chamberlaynes, Bere Regis

daytime work January 31 & February 1

Exact locations and diversion details are available on the Dorset County Council roadworks map.

Resurfacing is weather dependent - dates may change in adverse conditons.