MOTORISTS can expect traffic delays with a busy Southampton city centre road closed for major roadworks from today.

Part of Harbour Parade will be closed for four weeks for essential works that will pave the way for the flagship multi-million pound extension to WestQuay shopping centre.

The £70m Watermark WestQuay development will feature restaurants, major new shops, a hotel and a luxury cinema and will boost the city’s economy by creating new jobs.

Now contractors need to complete major utility works to prepare water, gas and electricity lines.

But developers insist the works are “carefully co-ordinated” to minimise disruption ahead of the busy Christmas shopping period.

They say they have done all they can to avoid a repeat of chaotic scenes earlier this year when jams paralysed the city.

They have timed the works to prevent clashes with improvements elsewhere, while waiting until the city’s boat show had finished.

Harbour Parade will be closed between the roundabout outside the headquarters of the Carnival cruise company to the junction with Western Esplanade until October 25.

Diversions will be in place throughout, while access to both WestQuay car parks and service yards will be maintained at all times.

Works will also take place in The Quays car park, expected to last beyond October 25.

The closure is the latest in a series of roadworks which have caused major delays – especially when many cruise ships are in dock.

They include improvements to Platform Road and to Central Bridge, which will remain closed until November 14 after engineers found the bridge in a worse state than previously thought.