MAJOR improvement works on a busy Southampton Road - set to last for 14 weeks - are underway.

Southampton City Council say "the majority" of the £700,000 works on Stoneham Lane will take place between 8pm and 6am.

The works to upgrade the traffic signals at two key junctions will take place in two phases - with work at the Stoneham Way junction with Thomas Lewis Way work will last approximately six weeks.

Work will then start on the junction with Stoneham Lane and Stoneham Way from late October and last for approximately eight weeks.

This second phase will require a 24 hour closure of the lower part of Stoneham Lane where it meets Stoneham Way just south of Carnation Road.

Night time closures will also be put in place to enable the works.

Transports chiefs say the work is part of city investment into "key routes" into the city - and is a bid to ease congestion in the morning and evening peaks.

They say the aim is "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 i.e. am inbound, pm outbound."

Two new toucan crossings will be installed across Stoneham Way and Stoneham Lane - improving safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists to local shops.

The work is being funded by developer contributions, the National Productivity Investment Fund and Southampton City Council.

Councillor Jacqui Rayment, cabinet member for transport and public realm, said: “Please bear with us as we carry out these essential works. 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.”