RESIDENTS in the Eastleigh borough are set to face weeks of roads misery as work on a new bypass get under way.

Heath House Lane in Hedge End is to be closed until April 27 to allow the next phase of work at Sundays Hill bypass.

Residents have raised concerns about the length of the closure.

But Breheny, the engineering company responsible for the work, said the road could reopen early.

The new bypass is 1.1km long with a 20m single-span concrete bridge on green field land.

As previously reported, it comes after plans for 1,400 homes at Boorley Green and 250 homes on land off Pylands Lane were granted permission in the past few years.

The new bypass will link Dodwell Lane and Pylands Lane with Heath House Lane avoiding the busy junction at Sundays Hill.

Traffic from Botley, Boorley Green and Hedge End will be diverted via Lower Northam Road and St John’s Road while traffic from the M27 will be diverted via Dodwell Road, Bursledon Road and Lower Northam Road.

Colin Mercer, chairman of Botley Parish Council, said: “We were concerned because that road is used by 8,000 vehicles a day.”

“They tried to keep one direction open but they found they are going to need the whole closure.

“We were concerned about the length of the closure.”

Craig Sims, from Breheny, said the proposed closure was reviewed with both Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council – other options such as night works and temporary traffic lights were also considered.

But the firm said that a closure is the safest and most productive way to undertake the tie-in works.

“We apologise in advance for the delays that may be experienced during the works,” Mr Sims added.