Motorists travelling in the Bournemouth area over the next few weeks will have to be prepared for traffic hold-ups with road closures and diversions.

BCP Council is to carry out significant resurfacing work to both Gervis and West Howe roundabouts in Bournemouth.

Work is scheduled to start on the Gervis roundabout first, at the junction with Meyrick Road, on Monday 16 October, lasting five days.

The focus will then turn to West Howe roundabout at the junction of the A348 Ringwood Road, High Howe Lane and Poole Lane on Monday 23 October, for a further five days.

This work has been made possible thanks to additional funding provided by the Department for Transport and is the last in a programme of five substantial resurfacing initiatives carried out across the conurbation over the past 12 months.

This has also seen Gervis Road in Bournemouth and Tower Park roundabout resurfaced, as well as Cudnell Avenue and Wimborne Road in Bearwood.

Work at both Gervis and West Howe roundabouts will take around two weeks to complete and see a special grouted asphalt used to replace the existing surface which will last for up to 30 years in comparison to traditional materials, which when used on a roundabout, can begin to wear after six years.

The material is applied as wet slurry that is laid over fresh asphalt and has an extended curing time, which means the work cannot be carried out during quieter periods, such as overnight or at times when there is less traffic.

The main diversion route for traffic travelling north and south will be via the A341 Magna Road and Queen Anne Drive, as well as via the A349 Gravel Hill, Waterloo Road, Dorset Way, Canford Way, Ringwood Road, Mountbatten roundabout and Wallisdown Road, which will be signposted.

Access to shops and businesses at the nearby retail parks and industrial estates will be maintained via the service road that runs adjacent to the A348 Ringwood Road from Lidl to Dunelm and The Range.

For safety reasons, there will be no right turn out of Lidl car park and back on to Poole Lane.

Gated vehicle access will be in place from the A348 Ringwood Road North to the Mountbatten and West Howe roundabouts for residents living here to ensure they are able to travel to and from their homes safely and with ease.

There will be no access from Knighton Heath Road or Poole Lane to the West Howe roundabout during the work, as well as the A348 Ringwood Road.

Temporary traffic signals currently in place on Magna Road, which is part of the diversion route, will be switched off for five days from Monday 23 October.

The diversions and road closures in place due to the planned work will have some impact on public transport in this area, so people are advised to check revised timetables or contact their provider directly if they have any questions.

Cllr Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy at BCP Council, said: “It goes without saying the planned resurfacing of these roundabouts will cause disruption for those who use this popular route, as well as local residents, but we’re carrying out this work during the school half term holiday period to minimise, as much as possible, the impact on both.

“It’s also important to note that due to the embargo against working on major parts of the highway network during peak tourist times, we haven’t been able to complete these upgrades during the summer months.

“We also want to avoid working closer to Christmas due to the potential effect on local businesses and the likelihood of delays caused by poor weather.

“This improvement work will make a huge difference to these roundabouts which have succumbed to years of wear and tear, and with the materials we are using, we can ensure they are much more robust, for longer.

“We ask people to take care when travelling in the area via the diversions in place while the resurfacing is ongoing, respecting other road users and our dedicated teams carrying out the work.”