THE cones are stacked and ready, the crash barriers have been removed and concrete has been laid for contraflows.

If you thought the past two weeks of preparatory work had been bad, things are about to get worse.

Rush-hour commuters are due to get their first taste of the main resurfacing work on Southampton's busy Millbrook Road tomorrow.

The ten-week programme has already been delayed by several days due to wet weather, but is due to start in the early hours.

The works will be carried out on the westbound (towards M271) carriageway from Paynes Road to 350 metres west of the Regents Park Road junction.

A car-only contraflow will be set up on the inside lane of the eastbound carriageway. One widened lane will be retained on the westbound carriageway for cars and lorries.

Resurfacing work will be carried out one lane at a time, with the adjacent lane closed as a safety buffer.

However, all three lanes will be closed for three nights of round-the-clock work while the middle lane is worked on.

A 30mph limit will be in force throughout the roadworks, with a 20mph advisory limit through the temporary barriers into the contraflow.

For the duration of the works there will be no access to or from Regents Park Road and Millbrook Point Road and so the traffic lights will be turned off. The necessary diversions and early warning signs will be set up.

Contractors say they will work until 8pm or 9pm each night in order to keep to their schedule.

Councillor Gavin Dick, the city's Cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "We are aware these roadworks may have adverse effects on motorists' journeys and we are working hard to ensure the works are completed as soon as possible.

"This resurfacing project is a vital investment and will benefit all road users in the future."

The works are part of an ongoing £41m investment to improve road surfaces in the city. They were brought forward so that they could be completed in time for the Southampton International Boat Show in September.