THE BRIDPORT to Weymouth coast road will be closed at Abbotsbury from next Monday for up to three months for water main works.

Wessex Water will be replacing the main, which has burst around 30 times in the last 15 years and is in urgent need of replacement.

The work in West Street, Market Street and Rodden Row will mean a lengthy diversion via the A354 and A35.

Wessex Water will provide a shuttle bus service to ensure residents remain connected to the village, including a separate shuttle bus which will run to and from the Sub Tropical Gardens.

Wessex Water design engineer Alan Marler said they were committed to completing the work in a way that keeps disruption to a minimum.

He said: “We have worked closely with residents and traders and have listened to their concerns. We hope the buses we are providing will help reduce the amount of disruption caused throughout the work.

“It is important that people continue to support local traders while our work takes place as all businesses and services will be accessible and open as normal.”

To complete the work quickly Wessex Water will be using ‘no-dig’ techniques, where possible, which will reduce the number of excavations that need to be made in the highway.

Mr Marler added: “These techniques will reduce the number of excavations we need to make therefore causing less disruption to local people.

“We will be doing everything we can to finish the work as quickly as possible.”