ENGINEERS should be working on the Bath Road flyover throughout the bank holiday weekend after a burst water main caused a “void” to open beneath the carriageway, a councillor has said.

The eastbound carriageway between the Royal Bath Hotel and the BIC roundabout is shut for emergency works after a problem was identified during a routine inspection.

There is currently no information available on when it might reopen. However, thousands of people are expected to visit Bournemouth this weekend as temperatures soar for the bank holiday.

Long tailbacks are expected through the town as a result of the problems.

Councillor Mike Greene, of BCP Council, said: “It couldn’t really have happened at a worse time.

“I understand engineers are investigating a void which they believe has opened up under the road.

“A similar situation happened in Bath Road close to the Royal Bath Hotel a few years ago.

“Given the huge inconvenience it’s going to cause, I hope the council will be treating this as their absolute top priority. Despite the fact that it’s a bank holiday weekend, I am calling on them to do everything they can to get the investigation completed and any repairs done as soon as possible.”

Gary Powell, head of highways and transportation for the council, said: “During some routine highway maintenance works yesterday our teams detected some issues with the road structure.

"Following an urgent inspection to ascertain the extent of the problem we quickly established a water main leak in the area.

"Bournemouth Water are now on site undertaking the urgent repair work in order for the road to be re-opened.

“It’s unfortunate this has happened ahead of the bank holiday weekend and we are doing all we can to manage traffic flows.”

Diversion routes will remain in place to ensure no eastbound traffic on Bath Road across the flyover.

Westbound traffic is being maintained.

A signposted diversion will be in place and the bus operators and emergency services have been informed.

Access to Bath Road North and South car parks will be maintained as well as access to the BIC and businesses to the west of the Pier flyover.