Six months of roadworks begin along major route

Roadworks along a busy main road in Hampshire have started and are predicted to be in place for six months.

The A338 Salisbury Road, near Ringwood on the edge of the New Forest, will see temporary traffic lights and occasional road closures.

The work to upgrade the electricity network, which started on Monday, is scheduled to be completed on 24 July.

A Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution spokesperson said: "Diversion routes have been clearly signposted, and work is being done during daytime hours to minimise disruption to residents."

The work will be completed in phases, gradually moving up the road and stopping just before Ibsley.

The first stage, which has began at Ringwood, is due to end on 6 February, with the following phase near Blashford scheduled between 26 January and 20 March.

The third will be near Ellingham Lake between 2 March and 24 April, then Ibsley Water between 6 April and 12 June, and finally just before Ibsley, from 26 May to 24 July.

A SSEN spokesperson said: "This particular project will involve the installation of new transformers and associated equipment within substations, and the laying of new underground cabling.

"To facilitate the latter, it's necessary to put in place temporary traffic lights, and in some cases temporary road closures at points along the route to allow work to proceed quickly and safely."

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