PREPARATIONS will get under way today (Monday) for a major £26 million scheme to transform Dorset’s busiest road.

Short sections of the A338 Spur Road will be restricted to single carriageway in a bid to ensure the safety of Dorset County Council workers and motorists.

During recent months ecologists have been relocating protected species of reptiles from the grass verges along the dual carriageway, between the Ashley Heath and Cooper Dean interchanges.

From today the county council will be carrying out a detailed survey of the area. Throughout the winter a barrier will be erected to ensure that reptiles do not move back into the area.

Scrub vegetation will be cleared from the verges to deter birds from nesting there and aid further reptile rescue next spring.

The South West Regional Assembly has approved almost £26 million for the county council to renew the road, which was built in the early 1970s.

The scheme, which is due to get under way next autumn, will involve a total reconstruction of the carriageway, improvements to drainage systems and renewal of safety barriers along a 6.5-mile section.

A recent survey of land adjacent to the road showed that it is home to all six species of reptile in the UK which are protected by UK law.

The sand lizard and smooth snake have additional protection under European law.

A county council spokesman said the authority had a statutory duty to protect and conserve important habitats and species.

Common species have been rescued through the autumn and all species will be relocated next spring following their winter hibernation period. The reptiles are being moved to nearby nature conservation areas.