WORK on Canford Bridge, which links Wimborne and Poole, will start on March 31, and is not due to be completed until December, it has been announced.

The timetable for the £3.1 million project to renovate the grade two listed bridge and Canford Flood Arches was released following a private meeting yesterday.

Carillion Civil Engineering is carrying out the work for the Borough of Poole and Dorset County Council.

An inspection had showed that both the bridge and the cantilevered footway had deteriorated. Without the work, a maximum 7.5 tonnes weight restriction would need to be imposed on the structure by 2010.

The work will initially require single way temporary traffic signals, but a complete road and bridge closure will also operate for 18 weeks from mid-June to October.

The road will then reopen with single way traffic signals across the bridge until the project is completed - scheduled for December.

The diversion route will be introduced on the A31 west to Lake Gates and into Wimborne over Julian's Bridge.

Information and diversion signs will be put in place. Arrangements are also being made with bus operators to reschedule their services.

A pedestrian link will be maintained at all times during the road closure.

Cllr Mike White at the Borough of Poole said that fish spawning activity in the river Stour prevented work taking place between November and April.

"Because working space is so restricted a closure period is unavoidable. However, we have kept this period of closure to an absolute minimum," he said.

Cllr Geoff Brierley of Dorset County Council added: "The structure is clearly worn and we want to bring it up to a standard that remains fit for purpose for many years to come, and also to ensure that its historic significance is retained."