ROADWORKS on one of the busiest routes into Southampton may have finished four weeks early but it is not the end of traffic cones in the city.

Future plans for work on Millbrook Road and West Quay Road will see lane closures for up to two weeks at a time.

Southampton City Council claims that the roadworks will not lead to as bad congestion as the recent £1m surface improvement works to Millbrook, which caused daily delays to drivers coming in and out of the city.

A city council spokesman said: "Traffic should not be affected during the West Quay Road works which are hoped to only last three days and will be done from 7.30pm until midnight."

She added that the work, scheduled to take place from next Friday until August 31, were to add new Southern Electric services to hotels along the road.

The planned surfacing work in Millbrook Road is scheduled to take place from September 24 until October 5 between Boundary Close and King George's Avenue.

"The Millbrook Road works will only see a lane closed in a slip road," the spokesman added.

Other major roadworks in the city include a 500-metre section of Bassett Avenue heading into the city from the M3 motorway.

Delays are expected over the August Bank Holiday weekend when the work is scheduled.

Further work is also expected on Burlsedon Road in the east of the city as gas main works are scheduled for three weeks from August 27.

This will see a lane closure at the junction with Hinkler Road, but the council says this will not affect traffic flow because the lane closure will stop traffic turning right into Kathleen Road and avoid forcing drivers to wait for others to turn.

The works are part of an ongoing £41m investment to improve road surfaces in the city.

Massive delays are expected when motorway widening plans between junction three and four of the M27 begin early next year.

The £51.9m scheme is expected to last up to 15 months.

It is hoped the improvements, which also include new overhead signs, will reduce congestion and make motorway travel safer.