MOTORISTS using one of the busiest roads in a Hampshire town centre are facing four weeks of disruption.

Southern Gas Networks is planning to dig up part of Gosport Street, Lymington, and replace an ageing metal main with a new plastic version.

The work, due to start today, is expected to cause long delays.

Gosport Street is one of the main routes taken by drivers going to the High Street and is used by thousands of vehicles a day.

The new main will be installed between the bottom end of the High Street and Gosport's Street's junction with Station Road.

One of the Lymington's town centre car parks is in the area affected by the £30,000 project.

Drivers anxious to avoid traffic congestion caused by the work are likely to put extra pressure on other parking areas in the area.

A Southern Gas Networks spokesman said temporary traffic lights would be used while engineers worked on a 200-metre section of Gosport Street.

She added: "We'll be replacing the existing main with a new version that's more flexible and durable and will have a very long lifespan.

"There will be a little bit of disruption to motorists and we would like to apologise for that in advance."

Homes and businesses in Gosport Street have been sent letters warning them about the work and the problems it is likely to cause.

Metal mains across Hampshire are being replaced with plastic versions as part of a 30-year rolling maintenance plan.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Ringwood High Street will be closed to traffic for seven weeks while a new main is installed.

The road will remain open to pedestrians during the project, due to start on February 19.