MOTORING organisation the AA is urging drivers to be patient during 31 weeks of roadworks to prepare Southampton for the new Saints' stadium.

As revealed in the Daily Echo, major changes to the Northam Road area are being made from Monday.

The £2.2 million project will see Britannia Road opened to two-way traffic, a new layout at its junction with Northam Road and new pedestrian and cycle routes.

It will not be completed until the eve of the next football season in August when the club are set to play first match at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium.

AA spokeswoman Rebecca Rees said: "Whenever there are roadworks there are major road problems and you have to expect delays.

"We would expect any diversions to be clearly signposted and plenty of information about the length of time the delays will last to be displayed on the electronic signs. We urge motorists to allow more time.

"The chances of an accident increase when there are roadworks, so we ask drivers to try not to get stressed and frustrated, because that will raise your likelihood of having a shunt."

She said that major problems were usually expected during the first week of roadworks but that they settled down soon after because drivers knew how much longer it would take.

"Southampton and the surrounding area has been cone city for the last year, with major roadworks on the M27, M271 and M3," she added.