MOTORISTS are facing up to eight weeks of lane closures on a stretch of the A35 as works are carried out.

One lane will be closed between 8pm and 6am and not from 9pm as previously stated by National Grid which is carrying out the work.

National Grid is carrying out the work near Winterbourne Abbas as parts of its Visual Impact Provision (VIP) project to remove 8.8km of overhead electricity cables from the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

A new site entrance from the A35 west of Winterbourne Abbas will be created and a box culvert adjacent to the roadway will be installed.

Work began on Monday and is scheduled to continue for up to eight weeks, the company said.

All work is taking place overnight between 8pm and 6am, when one lane of the A35 will remain closed to traffic to allow for a safe distance to be maintained between workers and the live traffic lane, which will be under two-way traffic light control.

The work is being undertaken by construction group Morgan Sindall and its subcontractor M J Church.

A National Grid spokesman said: "Throughout the duration of works noise and vibration levels will be monitored to ensure the impact on surrounding residents remains as low as possible.

"To minimise risk while ensuring site safety, Dorset Council has recommended that works vehicles use white noise reversing beacons.

"The installation of a box culvert will ensure that the River Winterbourne remains unaffected by the ongoing works. The construction methods used will ensure that the river continues to flow at its usual capacity and not affect the risk of flooding in the local area."

The VIP project is a major initiative to enhance the west Dorset landscape. The works will transform views from the Hardy Monument and South Dorset Ridgeway, enhancing the area’s natural beauty for residents and visitors.

The project will see 22 pylons removed between Winterbourne Abbas and Friar Waddon.

Anyone with questions about the works is urged to contact the VIP project team directly by calling 0330 134 0051 or sending an email to visualimpact@nationalgrid.com.