MOTORISTS face a six-mile diversion while weeks of works are carried out on a 320-metre stretch of road in Poole.

Blandford Road will be closed between Rigler Road and Ashmore Avenue due to mains cable works by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), from Friday, July 2 to Saturday, July 24.

The diversion means there will be no direct access between Poole and Hamworthy across either the Twin Sails Bridge or Poole Lifting Bridge.

Morebus has released a revision to their services online with numbers 8/9, 60 and 448 being affected during the closure.

READ MORE: Roadworks taking place across the BCP Council area

Once the initial work between Rigler Road and Ashmore Avenue on Blanford Road has been finished on July 24, the road will then close again in one direction between Blandford Close to Tuckers Lane with north west access only, from Monday, July 26, to Friday, August 20.

The works are part of SSEN’s £3.7 million network upgrade between Poole and Wareham.

The upgrade works began in April and SSEN have said it will benefit more than 19,000 Poole residents.

The project will run for eight months to enable the upgrade of 2.5 kilometers of underground cable; new sections of modern, robust cable will replace the existing oil filled cable which is reaching the end of its working life, allowing for a stronger network with capacity for future commercial and residential connections.

SSEN works will later move to Rockley Road, Goliath Road and then terminate at Hams Common Substation in Hercules Road.

The electrical company has issued an assurance online to customers that there are no Planned Service Interruptions (PSI) for the duration of these works, keeping the power flowing and supporting those who are at home or providing essential services during the current coronavirus restrictions.

SSEN project manager, Ian Daniels said: “I am delighted to be a part of this project which demonstrates SSEN’s commitment to providing its customers in Poole with an efficient electricity network fit for their needs now and into the future; helping them meet their net zero goals.

“I would like to reassure customers in the vicinity of these works that, as considerate constructors, my team and I will do all we can to minimise the potential for any noise and disruption.”

For additional information visit the SSEN and More Bus websites.