Drivers in Dorset are being advised to allow a little extra time for their journeys over the coming months, as work gets underway to repair a landslip issue on the A35.

A landslip has been identified on land adjoining the A35 to the west of Chideock. To avoid further deterioration and a safety risk for drivers, National Highways' contractors started a programme of excavation and stabilisation work on Monday.

To enable the complex operation, the westbound climbing lane at Chideock Hill will be removed, with the eastbound lane utilised for construction traffic and access, and the other two lanes remaining for eastbound and westbound traffic.

The £2 million stabilisation scheme is expected to take five months to complete and the work, to be carried out by specialists South West Highways, Balfour Beatty and sub-contractors, involves excavating the slipped material before stabilising the ground with more robust material and installing an enhanced drainage system.

National Highways service manager Stephen Potts said: "We appreciate roadworks can be frustrating but we need to carry out this work to ensure the long-term integrity of this section of the A35.

"This time of year provides the best conditions for building earthworks and ground conditions are optimum now.

"The layout change is purely to allow contractors safe access to the site for plant, equipment and materials. And although there won't be a climbing lane in operation for some time, we are maintaining traffic flows with a single lane in each direction.

"The stabilisation work will take place on land adjoining the A35, we're working and communicating with local residents to ensure the impact of noise, vibration and dust is kept to a minimum, and we thank all drivers in advance for their co-operation and patience."

Drivers can obtain up-to-the-minute travel information on local radio, via the @HighwaysSWEST Twitter feed, by phoning the National Highways Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or by accessing the website www.trafficengland.com

And for more details on National Highways' work in the South West go to https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/south-west/