MOTORISTS are being warned of several months of disruption on a major dual carriageway as work begins installing a roundabout.

The £1.5m project is designed to improve safety at the busy A167 junction with the B6312 road outside the Red Lion at Plawsworth, between Durham and Chester-le-Street.

Construction crews and groundworkers are due move in on Monday at the start of a potential six-month contract on one of the busiest stretches of road in the county.

Design and construction of the scheme, which has been funded by the Highways Agency, will be carried out by Durham County Council and a number of private sector partners, with Cumbrian Industrials Ltd the principle contractor.

Temporary traffic management will be put in place throughout the period of the construction.

It will include lane closures, contra-flow, closure of gaps in the central reservation and a mandatory speed limit of 40 miles an hour between the Pity Me and Hermitage roundabouts.

Chris Tunstall, the county council's environment and technical services director, apologised to motorists, in advance, for the anticipated delays during the period of the contract, which he hopes will remain on schedule.

He said: "With a scheme of this size and duration, it is inevitable that motorists will face some delays and we would urge drivers to build in extra time for their journey, or take an alternative route, if at all possible.

"Once the work is complete the new roundabout will greatly improve safety at the junction and ease congestion at peak times."

Coun Bob Pendlebury, the county council cabinet member for environment, said steps had been taken to protect local wildlife. "Advance work was done earlier this year which included taking out trees and shrubs to prevent birds nesting in areas which will be affected by the work."

The A167, one of the main north-south routes in the county, carries at least 27,000 vehicles a day, with an estimated 5,900 vehicles using the B6312 stretch between Sacriston and the Red Lion junction.

While work is being carried out on the main road and roundabout pedestrian and cycling facilities will also be improved between the Pity Me and Hermitage roundabouts.

Durham County Council took over responsibility for the A167 from the Highways Agency in April.