MOTORISTS are set to face three weeks of traffic misery as roadworks are carried out on the main road into Bournemouth.

A contraflow system will be in place with one lane of traffic in both directions of the A338 Wessex Way.

Slip road closures and a reduced speed limit will also be in force while the “essential work” is carried out.

Engineers contracted by BCP Council will be on site on the Braidley Road overbridge for three weeks from Sunday, March 5.

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A BCP Council spokesperson said: “Essential work is scheduled on the A338 Wessex Way between Bournemouth West Roundabout and St Pauls Roundabout and will commence on Sunday, March 5, for approximately three weeks.

“The works are to replace moving joints and to undertake inspection tests on the Braidley Road Overbridge.

“In order to safely undertake these works, a temporary speed reduction of 30mph and a contraflow will be in place, which will make use of the newly-constructed crossover points to ensure residents can still travel the route.

“The road will be open to traffic as usual during the weekends of 11-12 March and 18-19 March.”

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The speed limit will be dropped from 40mph to 30mph between Bournemouth West Roundabout and St Pauls Roundabout throughout the work.

In the first week of work, the eastbound off and on slips at Richmond Hill interchange will be closed to all traffic.

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The following week will see the on slip eastbound closure remain in place, along with closures to both the off and on slip for the westbound carriageway at Richmond Hill.

The final week will see just the eastbound on slip closure in force.

The contraflow system across the central reservation is only possible following work carried out by the council in November last year.

The three weeks of work to install the crossover points involved the Wessex Way being reduced to one lane in both directions.

This caused long tailbacks on the dual carriageway, especially at peak times for the morning and afternoon rush hour traffic.