AN EARLY end is in sight to long-running roadworks which have jammed traffic in Christchurch since the autumn.
Work which began in October on a long-awaited remodelling of the A35 Barrack Road-Stour Road junction was expected to continue until the middle of May.
But Dorset county highways chiefs masterminding the £1.25 million scheme are confident the job will be finished around April 21, three weeks ahead of schedule.
The news has been welcomed by local council and business leaders and will end five months of motoring misery for drivers snarled up by traffic jams and diversions around one of the busiest road junctions in Dorset.
Christchurch council leader Cllr Alan Griffiths said: "It is a great relief that this scheme, that has caused some disruption to traffic in Christchurch, is being completed three weeks early.
"This junction will now be much safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists."
Chamber of Trade president Nikki Sale said: "We have had a lot of traffic problems but from the feedback I have had I don't think it was as bad as we thought it would be.
"It has to be good for Christchurch that it will be up and running in time for the summer season."
The Barrack Road scheme was drawn up to tackle the accident record at the dual carriageway junction heavily used by schoolchildren, elderly pedestrians and cyclists.
Improvements including wider pavements, pedestrian crossings, new lights and hi-tech traffic detection equipment are designed to improve safety.
County council project manager Gordon Jenkins said: "I think it has gone very well indeed, although there have been one or two comments from the public that would say otherwise," he said.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article