A ROAD on the outskirts of Weymouth will shut overnight to allow trees and weeds near a key railway bridge to be trimmed and cut back.

Dorchester Road, based in Bincombe, will be closed in both directions from 9pm on Saturday (October 31) until 5am on Sunday (November 1).

Network Rail is carrying out safety inspection work around the Upwey Bridge on the main Weymouth line.

In order to safely carry out the work, a stretch of road in and around the railway bridge will be closed to motorists.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “As part of work to keep the railway safe, punctual and reliable for passengers and freight trains, we’re trimming and cutting back trees and weeds overnight on October 31 on Upwey Bridge on the Weymouth line.

“Before the work is carried out, the team will use a mobile platform to inspect the bridge which means Dorchester Road will be temporarily closed to traffic.

“This is routine maintenance that we do across the network every day of the year when trackside vegetation becomes overgrown, dangerously obscuring signals or the view from the train cab for drivers.”

He added train services in the area will be unaffected by the overnight maintenance.

A 3.4 mile diversion route will be in place, taking drivers onto Dorchester Road, Icen Lane, Littlemoor Road and Dorchester Road to bypass the road closure.

Further roadworks are scheduled to take place on the same stretch of Dorchester Road where the route will be resurfaced.

The maintenance is due to begin on Wednesday, November 4 and be completed by Friday, November 6.