DRIVERS are being warned of disruption today and tomorrow as a main road in Weymouth is closed for roadworks.

Dorchester Road from north of the Manor roundabout to Upwey will be closed from 9.30am until 3.30pm today and tomorrow so that Dorset Council's highways teams can make essential road repairs.

It is hoped to be all completed by tomorrow but the council has obtained a five-day closure notice in case work overruns.

Dorset Council said it is carrying out resurfacing work on local roads that are in a 'deteriorating condition' to keep life-saving medicine, equipment, supplies and key workers travelling safely across the county during the pandemic.

Traffic will be diverted via the relief road while the work is carried out. Bus operator First Wessex said its Weymouth - Littlemoor number two service and Weymouth - Dorchester number ten service will be disrupted during the closure.

Service two will be diverted from Mercery Road and run directly to Turnstone Close and the same for the return journey.

Service ten will be diverted from Morrisons and run directly to Dorchester and the same for the return journey.

First Wessex apologises that it will be unable to call at stops in between those points during the closure times.

Dorset Council said the resurfacing was originally supposed to start on Monday but has been rescheduled, and that a letter has been sent to inform nearby residents.

The decision to undertake the work was agreed on July 10, following the Government’s guidance that construction activity should continue where it fits with current Public Health England requirements and industry safety guidance.

A Dorset Council spokesman said: "We are working closely with other highway authorities across the south west and with industry bodies to share knowledge of new ways of working.

"As you can appreciate this is a rapidly developing situation, so we are doing our best to keep Dorset’s businesses and residents up to date as this work progresses. Additional safety measures are also being taken to ensure the health and safety of workers in these unprecedented times.

"In the current financial climate, the highways service has had to focus it budget on targeting the most damaged sections of road and areas with safety issues."

The latest information on all planned road works in Dorset can be found at Dorset Council's website: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/roadworks