PLANNED highways improvements in Dorset have been put on hold so that workers can support essential council services.

Dorset Council said its Highways teams will focus on delivering priority services, with roadwork schemes being paused with immediate effect, for at least three weeks.

However, drivers will be pleased to hear that the council also said it will make use of the quiet period on our roads to repair potholes.

The three week shutdown will impact all highway improvement schemes and any bridge or road maintenance activities, with current work sites being closed down and traffic management being removed.

Regular inspections will be carried out at closed sites to ensure they remain safe, and the council will continue to provide winter maintenance until April 30 and respond to 24 hour callouts for highway emergencies and high-risk safety defects such as emergency repairs to roads, bridges and footways.

A Dorset Council spokesman said: "Our workforce is on standby to provide support to other council services. We are uniquely situated across the council area with a fleet of vehicles to help with deliveries, and workforce qualified to drive many different types of equipment and vehicles.

"We know how beneficial it would be to get work done while roads are quieter. We are working closely with our partners and supply chain investigating how some maintenance work could be delivered – where it is safe to do so – after this initial three-week pause.

"While roads are quieter, we will make the best use of available workforce to continue carrying out pothole repairs. We will also continue to inspect our busiest roads for defects, however our response times may take longer in light of the current situation."

In Swanage, Institute Road was reopened to traffic at 2pm on Tuesday March 24. The temporary signals on High Street have been removed and Kings Road East has returned to its normal one-way flow out of town. Stafford Road has reopened to two-way traffic.

In Gillingham, the temporary pedestrian signals have been removed and a temporary refuge island has been installed. The three-way temporary lights at Wyke Street have been switched off and the junction is operating off the permanent signals.

Dorset Council's traffic team will continue to keep the Travel Dorset online map up to date with what work is continuing and which works are cancelled or rescheduled.