COMMUTERS in Christchurch and Highcliffe are set experience yet more delays as more roadworks are to be put in place along busy routes tomorrow.

Openreach and Wessex Water are to begin essential cable installation and sewage maintenance work on Wednesday February 17, whilst Bournemouth Water began installing a new water supply along Bargates yesterday.

These works, all being carried out during the half term break, are all expected to be completed on Friday February 19.

This comes as month-long roadworks have started along Barrack Road due to installation work carried out by CityFibre, corresponded by the fitting of equipment to house fibre optic cables by SSE Enterprise Telecoms from March 8, which is set to take five weeks.

Temporary traffic lights will be in place along Lymington Road from tomorrow to enable engineers to install a new broadband cabinet and around 15 metres of underground ducting and cable.

This coincides with temporary traffic signals which are already in place along Lymington Road until 28 February during BCP Council’s highway improvement works.

A spokesperson for Openreach said: “Our engineers are working on Lymington Road for the next couple of days installing a new broadband cabinet and around 15 metres of underground cabling.

“We need traffic management to keep them safe, so we apologise in advance for any disruption this may cause.

“The work is expected to run until the end of the week, but we’re doing everything we can to get it finished as quickly as we can.”

Temporary traffic lights were installed along Bargates on February 15, whilst Twynham Avenue is temporarily closed until the end of the working week.

A Bournemouth Water spokesperson said: “We are working to install a new water supply in Bargates, Christchurch, and have temporary traffic lights in place to ensure our staff can carry out the installation safely.

“This work is due to be completed and the traffic lights removed this Friday February 19.

“We are also working to repair a leak on Church Street which was discovered over the weekend. We expect to be complete the repair by Wednesday February 17.

“No customers’ supplies are being affected by either work.” 

A three-way traffic management system will be in place along Fairmile Road at the junction with Flambard Avenue, and two temporary pedestrian crossings have also been installed as Wessex Water carry out “essential” sewage work.

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “We are carrying out routine sewer jetting and cleaning work in Fairmile Road, close to the junction with Flambard Avenue, to maintain the smooth operation of the sewer.

“Temporary three-way traffic lights will be in place, along with two temporary pedestrian crossings to ensure the safety of the general public near our working area.

“We are due to be finished by Friday February 19 and would like to thank local residents and motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work.”