Drivers are being warned to expect delays as major roadworks get underway in a town centre – and business owners have raised concerns about the impact on trade.

On Monday, off-peak temporary signals returned to Sea Road North, Bridport, to widen the pavement alongside Riverside Gardens, from the roundabout up to the bridge over the River Asker, into a shared use footway and cycleway.

Once completed, work will move to East Street and, from this Sunday, the road will be closed between 7pm and 7am for five nights, reopening on Thursday, January 27.

The overnight closures will allow the kerb line to be changed for the crossing point.

Starting on Monday, January 29, there will be six weeks of work to install the crossing on East Street. It will be carried out between 9.30am and 3.30pm on Mondays to Fridays, with temporary signals in place.

Local business owners have expressed concern over the works.

Simon Mazzei owns the Olive Tree on East Street and says there has been a lack of communication prior to the work taking place.

“First we had the work around the library and now these road closures," he said. "In both cases, the first thing we knew about the work was when the signs went up.

“Roadworks have already hit our business and walk-in trade, especially at lunch time. We were losing about 10 lunches a day. It’s a pain that it’s right outside where we are. The economy is tough at the moment and we have staff and suppliers to pay on top of that; it does not take much to hurt us. Hopefully people will still come and visit us.

“It’s frustrating because [the council] don’t seem to care about local businesses and give us warning.”

Sian Thomas, of the Bull Hotel, agreed. “There was no communication,” she said.

“I found out as I was driving past and saw the signs. I was surprised – some notice would have been nice.”

Another business owner, who did not wish to be named, said: “We are concerned about it but I guess we’ll have to suck it and see. We don’t know what’ll happen until it goes ahead but it’s concerning that people won’t be able to access the car park on East Street. They should have given people notice and done a leaflet drop. People need some warning.”

To complete the cycle links into the town centre, another shared footway and cycleway will be added around the south-east side of the roundabout, and the pedestrian crossing on Sea Road South will be upgraded to a toucan crossing.

The dates for this work is currently being finalised with Highways England, which is funding the improvements. 

Dorset County Councillor Daryl Turner, cabinet member for the natural and built environment, said: “In 2008 a Bridport-wide cycle network was identified and now, with additional funding from Highways England, we can improve the facilities around the A35 trunk road.

“By improving the crossing points and providing cycleways between the town centre and residential areas, we can give people an alternative means of travel rather than having to get in their cars for every journey.

“This is an extremely busy area so we are working off-peak hours and we will be manually controlling the lights, but there will still be some delays – please bear with us.”

Aside from the cycleway project, Church Street is also closed while roadworks are put in place on a new six-home housing development."

For more information visit www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/bridportcycleways