A MAJOR Southampton commuter route is to be closed as £700,000-worth of work is completed in a bid to ease congestion.

New traffic signals, which civic chiefs say will improve traffic flow, will be installed on Stoneham Lane, with work set to be completed just in time for Christmas.

Full, 24-hour closures of the lower part of the road will begin “in late October”, and last for eight weeks.

Neighbouring road Stoneham Way, which is a major city entrance from the M27, will also be partially-closed from September 17 from 8pm to 6am. This will last for six weeks.

City council chiefs say the works are part of the council’s “commitment to invest in key routes into the city to secure a sustainable and successful future for Southampton”.

As well as improved signals, work will also include a new junction layout which will introduce a dedicated left turn lane from Stoneham Way towards Stoneham Lane.

Two new toucan crossings across Stoneham Way and Stoneham Lane will also be created.

It comes after Bassett Avenue was shut for a month so it could be resurfaced for the first time in 16 years.

Councillor Jacqui Rayment, city council transport boss, apologised to motorists for the closures, but reiterated their importance.

“Please bear with us as we carry out these essential works,” she said.

“We are investing now to make sure this key route into the city is fit for the future.

“We will be doing everything we can to minimise disruption including working overnight only where possible and using the latest temporary signals which can replicate exactly the normal traffic lights.”

Phase one of the works, starting in September, will focus on the junction of Stoneham Way with Thomas Lewis Way, with phase two, dealing with the junction with Stoneham Lane, commencing as soon as the former is completed.

A council spokesperson added: “The area suffers from significant congestion in the morning and evening peaks. This project will aim to relieve some of the symptoms of congestion by introducing new and improved traffic signalling technology.

“The new signals at each junction will be linked together meaning that the flow of traffic will improve as they will turn green consecutively in the direction of the dominant flow of traffic – for example inbound in the morning, and outbound in the afternoon and evening.”

The project will cost £700,000 and is funded by developer contributions, the National Productivity Investment Fund and Southampton City Council.

Diversion routes will be clearly signposted and safe pedestrian routes will be maintained at all times.