DRIVERS will get some relief on Sunday when a 24-hour road closure that has caused huge tailbacks and delay is lifted.

The A351 between the Bakers Arms pub and Holton Heath near Wareham will be reopened, with a set of temporary traffic lights used outside of rush hour.

Dorset County Council has been carrying out a major rebuild since September 19 and a diversion was set up through Sandford.

The end of the road closure will ease tailbacks that have frustrated motorists and commuters including on surrounding roads like the A35.

A council spokesman said: “We anticipate the temporary lights being up for a week.

“There will be one set of signals which will move along the middle section of the road as work progresses.

“Outside of the rush hours, there will be temporary traffic lights on sections between the two roundabouts to allow us to finish off work, including the new footway and cycleway.

“This path will be a massive improvement for pedestrians and cyclists, making their journeys a lot safer.”

When the work first started, drivers reported tail backs stretching along the A35 for two miles from the Bakers Arms to Morden Park Corner.

Several businesses told the Echo earlier this month they had lost almost half to their usual trade during the closure.

Paul Cribb from Cribb Tyres said: “Lifting the closure is movement in the right direction but it will be chock-a-block traffic on the road.”

The council said the road was worn out and the new surface should last for 20 years.

The spokesman added: “We have dug up and recycled the old surface, which now forms the base layer under the new asphalt.

“This recycling meant we didn't have to pay to dispose of the old material – just regraded and reshaped it before laying it as the foundation layer.