ROADWORKS on a busy Dorchester town centre road have been pushed forward and will begin next week.

Starting on Monday, November 23, Bridport Road will be closed for resurfacing in sections throughout the week between 9am and 4pm.

A spokeswoman for Dorset Council said the work has been brought forward to "take advantage of quieter roads while drivers stay at home during the current restrictions, with the resurfacing originally scheduled to take place in January 2021."

Bridport Road will be closed from 9am to 4pm on Monday and Tuesday, November 24 between Damers Avenue and Williams Avenue, with drivers still able to access Williams Avenue from Bridport Road when approaching from Top o’ Town Roundabout.

The road will be closed from 9am to 4pm on Wednesday, November 25 and Thursday, November 26 between Williams Avenue and Top o’ Town Roundabout. Drivers will only be able to access the hospital car park on Williams Avenue from the Damers Road end.

On Friday, November 27, the whole stretch from Damers Road to Top o’ Town Roundabout will be closed from 9am to 4pm for the top layer of surfacing material to be laid. White lining works will also take place, weather permitting.

Dorset Echo: Bridport Road in Dorchester will close for resurfacing. Picture: Travel DorsetBridport Road in Dorchester will close for resurfacing. Picture: Travel Dorset

Permit holders on Bridport Road will be able to park in Top o’ Town car park while the work is taking place.

During resurfacing work at the Top o’ Town Roundabout end of the road, the car park will remain open, however, drivers are advised to find alternative parking where possible as there will be significant delays in entering and exiting while the works area is made safe to travel through.

Drivers are also being advised not to use Poundbury Road in an attempt to travel around the works. There will be no access onto Bridport Road and there is not enough space for vehicles to turn around.

A 3.4 mile diversion route has also been posted on Travel Dorset which shows motorists must use Bridport Road and Middle Farm Way, A37 and B3147 to bypass the road closure.

Elsewhere in Dorset, resurfacing work to repair a 6,095-metre (3.7 mile) section of the A352 through the villages of Longburton and Holnest between Dorchester and Sherborne is ongoing.