CLOSURES and temporary speed limits will be in place along a major route in and out of Hampshire from next month.

Highways England engineers will carry out works on the A31 for around four months as part of a multi-million pound project.

Work will begin on November 6 and continue in phases along a 20-mile stretch between Picket Post in the New Forest and Almer near Bere Regis.

As part of the scheme, a 30mph speed limit will be imposed on both carriageways between Marsh Lane and the local road leading to and from Almer, while a 50mph limit will be in place on both carriageways between the Ameysford roundabout and the entry slip at the Ashley Heath roundabout.

There will also be a series of overnight closures at various points during the works.

At times, both carriageways will be closed between the Ameysford roundabout and Canford Bottom.

Slip roads from the Salisbury Road junction, the Verwood Road junction, the Ashley Heath roundabout and the A31 at Picket Post will also be affected.

In addition, bus stops and lay-bys along affected stretches will be temporarily shut during the works.

A spokesperson from Highways England said contractors will be undertaking the renewal of traffic signs and associated works during the scheme.

Overnight closures will take place between 10pm and 6am, with traffic diverted using other junctions of the A31 and A337, B3075, B3078 and B3081.

Traffic will also be diverted through Bull Lane, Football Green, Forest Road, Hurn Lane, Linford Road, New Road, Ringwood Road, Seaman’s Road, Southampton Road, Vermin Lane, West Moors Road and Wimborne Road.

The diversion in operation will vary according to the closure in force.

The work was announced just weeks after Highways England started a seven-month programme of work on the A31 between Cadnam and Bere Regis for a mixture of drainage system survey work and line repainting.

The scheme will be carried out in phases to “minimise disruption”.

It will see the A31 widened to include extra lanes as it passes by Ringwood.