MOTORISTS in Winchester are facing a nightmare summer season of roadworks.

Regular drivers in the city know only too well that schemes in one part of the city have knock-on effects elsewhere as drivers seek rat-runs to avoid bottlenecks.

Civic chiefs have announced that three separate roadworks will be undertaken in coming months.

It could be worse, however - Hampshire County Council has arranged that the work is staggered to minimise the intensity of disruption, but it will last longer.

The first scheme starts this month with changes along Romsey Road, the busiest commuter route into the city, to make it more pedestrian-friendly. Work will last between three and four weeks, finishing in mid-May.

A county council spokesman said the work would take place outside rush hours and be mainly confined to the pavements.

The works also include a new traffic island outside police headquarters. There will be stop-and-go signs in place.

The redevelopment of a site in Bar End Road and Cathedral View will see that major route closed entirely over one weekend, either April 17-18 or April 24-25. There will be a diversion along Barfield Close.

Tailbacks are expected throughout the scheme because traffic in Bar End Road will be limited by traffic lights to one-way only.

The third major scheme is safety work on the railway bridge in St Cross Road. Work will be carried out between July and October, with the bulk being done in the school holidays when there is less traffic, more daylight and better weather.

Some delays are likely, and there will be traffic lights in operation in off-peak hours.

Jim Sawyer, chairman of Winchester Chamber of Commerce, said it was important that the county council made the public aware of the works to avoid unnecessary disruption.

Mr Sawyer said: "Prior consultation with the business community can be a bit weak. But liaison is getting better.

"There is better dialogue but it is still not good enough.

"These roadworks have got to be done. We need to make sure there is as little damage as possible to business and that customers are not deterred from coming to Winchester.

"We are fighting a hard enough battle as it is against West Quay, Basingstoke and Hedge End."

Alan Jowsey, head of traffic and transport at the city council, said he did not expect major congestion.