MOTORISTS across Basingstoke face more traffic misery after the people behind improvement works to a major Basingstoke roundabout announced that it was behind schedule and won't be completed until October.

As previously reported by The Gazette, the redevelopment of Black Dam Roundabout was announced by the Government in 2012, as part of its national Pinch Point Programme, after the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, involving representatives from private and public sector organisations from north Hampshire and Surrey, submitted a bid for the cash.

As part of the £10million scheme, four lanes of northbound traffic will be directed into the centre of the roundabout and an additional two-arm lane is also set to be added to allow motorists travelling on the A30 to join the centre of the new roundabout, easing congestion for people going to the town centre and on the A339.

In addition, the project is set to see the realignment and widening of all approaches, the installation of safety barriers, new traffic signs, signals and street lights.

But the scheme is set to continue to cause traffic misery for residents and commuters across the town after Highways England, the team behind the scheme, announced that it was behind track to be completed in spring and is now expected to be completed in October.

A Highways England spokesman told The Gazette that the scheme has been delayed as the relocation of utilities under the roundabout and the surrounding land has been "more complicated than originally planned".

The roundabout had to be closed for several hours on March 19 after a contractor's digger caused a gas leak after it hit a pipe close to Barbel Avenue, Eastrop during the morning rush hour.

The spokesman added: "The scheme is progressing well but has been hampered by the complicated task of moving several utilities, including a major gas main, which is substantially completed. We have made good progress with the construction of the new carriageway through the roundabout.

"Some elements of the widening have already finished, however we still need to complete the drainage, install new gantries for the signage and install new traffic lights to control the new road layout.

"The scheme will be a significant improvement for this busy junction and it will bring substantial benefits to road users, business and the general public. We recognise that the work has caused some disruption and are continuing to carry it out while making sure it has the least possible impact."

Highways England has also announced that they plan to close the northbound M3 spur road at junction 6 next month to allow workers to build a new traffic splitter island at the northern point of the spur road.

As part of the works, which will take place from 10pm on Friday, June 19 until 5.30am on Monday, June 22 and from 10pm on Friday, June 26 until 5.30am on Monday, June 29, the roundabout will be reduced to a single lane.

Highways England has advised motorists to use junctions 5 or 7 to come into Basingstoke when the closures take place.