A SECTION of the A31 is set to close for more than three months as a safety barrier is replaced and street lighting is installed.

The A31 between Ferndown and St Leonard’s will close between 9pm and 6am from Thursday, September 9 to Friday, December 17.

The closure, which will be from Monday to Friday, will be to replace the safety barrier and install new street lighting work. It will be carried out in three phases.

Phase one will start on September 9 and last until Wednesday, October 20.

National Highways will be implementing 24-hour narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit on the A31 in both directions to replace the safety barrier and street lighting between the Ameysford roundabout and the Palmersford roundabout.

An overnight closure of the A31 in both directions between Canford Bottom and the Palmersford roundabout will also take place on September 9, to allow the narrow lanes to be installed.

Traffic will be diverted via Wimborne Road West/East.

The eastbound A31 will be closed overnight between Canford Bottom to the Boundary Lane roundabout from Friday, September 10 to Wednesday, October 20 between 9pm and 6am.

The westbound A31 will also be closed during this time from Palmersford roundabout to Canford Bottom.

Eastbound traffic will be diverted via Wimborne Road West/East, A347 Ringwood Road, A347 New Road, Whitelegg Way, Castle Lane West, then the A338 north to head back to the A31. The westbound diversion will be the same in reverse.

For phase 2, which involves street lighting replacement, the A31 will be closed overnight in both directions from Thursday October 21 to Friday, December 3, Monday to Friday between 9pm and 6am, between the Woolsbridge roundabout and the Palmersford roundabout.

Eastbound traffic will be diverted via A347 Ringwood Road, A347 New Road, Whitelegg Way, Castle Lane West, then the A338 north to head back to the A31. The westbound diversion will be the same in reverse.

Phase three will continue the street lighting replacement and will take place between Monday, December 6 and Friday, December 17.

There will be night time closures of the A31 in both directions from Monday December 6 to Friday December 17, Monday to Friday, between 9pm and 6am between the Ameysford roundabout and the Azalea roundabout.

Eastbound traffic will be diverted via Cobham Road, Wimborne Road East, A347 Ringwood Road, A347 New Road, Whitelegg Way, Castle Lane West, then the A338 north to head back to the A31. The westbound diversion will be the same in reverse.