MOTORISTS have been asked to note that the A31 between Alton and Farnham is set to suffer from lane closures.

Delays are expected west of the Coxbridge roundabout for three months as work gets under way to replace a water main.

Drivers are being asked to plan ahead while South East Water’s contractors replace the water main that has burst 10 times in eight years.

The water company is investing £200,000 in the project, which will enable 349 metres of new pipe to be laid across the A31 between Chamber Lane and Runwick Lane. Work will begin on Tuesday, August 29, and is expected to be completed within 11 weeks.

During the work, which it is hoped will put and end to emergency roadworks and water supply interruptions, alternating lane

closures will be put in place on both lanes of the A31 westbound carriageway

towards Alton.

South East Water project manager Jeremy Dufour said: “It is unacceptable to us that residents go without water when this pipe bursts, which is why we plan to upgrade this section of water main.

“We have been working closely with the highways authority and, in order to keep motorists and our workforce safe, we will need to have lane closures in place.

“I would like to apologise for the disruption this work may cause but hope motorists and the community understand the long-term benefits this scheme will deliver.”

The scheme is part of a £424m investment

programme the company has put in place for 2015-2020. Further details can be found at: www.southeastwater.co.uk/a31.