By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
The closure of a key road into Southampton will cause “absolute chaos”, a senior councillor has warned.
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Work by Southern Water to rebuild and resurface Bassett Avenue is due to start on Monday, August 3 and is expected to last two weeks.
It comes after the utility firm previously carried out a major repair of a water main in the area.
The busy road will be closed southbound from Chilworth Roundabout to Memorial Roundabout and reduced to one lane northbound, affecting traffic heading to and from the M3.
Motorists will be asked to take a diversion route along Bassett Green Road, Stoneham Lane and Burgess Road.
Jacqui Rayment, Labour councillor responsible for transport, said the works were Southern Water’s responsibility, not the council, but warned they would cause “absolute chaos”.
Digital signs have been put up in Bassett Avenue warning of roadworks set to take place in August. Photo: LDRS
Speaking at a council meeting, Cllr Rayment said: “There will be all sorts going on. It’s got to be done.”
She added: “These things happen and then Southern Water come in and allegedly save the day.”
Cllr Rayment said council officers will monitor the work very closely in an effort to ensure the scheme does not overrun.
She said: “It doesn’t matter where you live in the city, everyone knows how busy Bassett Avenue is, so I do expect there to be issues surrounding that but we will do our best to manage those.”
Southern Water’s work in Bassett Avenue will take place at the same time as the utility firm continues to fix a collapsed sewer in Shirley, with this scheme in the high street now scheduled to be finished by the end of August.
It also coincides with the start of work on St Denys Road, where upgrades to electricity distribution equipment by Scottish and Southern Power Distribution will result in temporary lights near Cobden Bridge expected to be in place for two weeks, and ongoing work on Thomas Lewis Way..
This article is from the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Some alterations/additions may have been made by our site - a BBC Local News Partnerships member. BBC-funded LDRS journalists cover local authorities and public service organisations, with content shared by all partners.