Six weeks of roadworks begin at busy junction

Work will take place at Sturminster Newton Bridge until 19 December

Nightly road closures and temporary traffic lights are expected at a busy junction as resurfacing work and signal upgrades begin.

Dorset Council said work will take place on the A357 Newton Hill/Bridge Street junction of Sturminster Newton Bridge until 19 December.

Outdated signals will be replaced with modern equipment and above-ground detection to improve reliability and reduce future maintenance.

Three-way temporary lights will operate throughout the works and pedestrian access will be maintained via a temporary crossing.

The council said drivers should expect delays, especially at peak times.

There will be overnight road closures on 12 and 13 December for resurfacing work, between 20:00 GMT and 06:00, and a 24-hour closure on 14 December.

Council engineers said the improvements would enhance safety, reduce congestion, and future-proof the junction for years to come.

Councillor Jon Andrews, said: "This is a vital upgrade for one of our busiest junctions.

"The current signal equipment is outdated and increasingly unreliable, so this refurbishment will make a real difference to traffic flow and safety.

"We're also taking the opportunity to carry out resurfacing works at the same time to minimise future disruption.

"We appreciate everyone's patience while these improvements are carried out."