MOTORISTS are being advised of potential disruption to their journeys ahead of highways improvements in County Durham.

Durham County Council is to carry out resurfacing and other works at Dipton, Sedgefield, Barnard Castle, Seaham, Chester-le-Street and Durham, over the coming weeks.

The work at Dipton will see resurfacing of the A692 Front Street from today, Friday 6 until Friday April 13. The work will require the road to be closed from its junction with Cooperative Terrace to its junction with Derwent View Terrace, between 9am and 3pm each day.

A diversion will be in place during the closure with signs advising of the route. Access for residents will be maintained wherever possible.

Work to repair barriers is already underway at Neville’s Cross railway bridge on the A167 in Durham City. The work is due to run until Monday 16 April and is being done in phases to allow two way traffic to be maintained, although lane restrictions will be in place. Where it is necessary to close footpaths, signs will be in place to advise of alternatives routes.

Work to create road markings and lay anti-skid material takes place on the A67 Bede Road roundabout at Barnard Castle, from Monday 9 April for five days. The work will take place each day from 9.15am to 3.30pm with temporary traffic lights in operation.

Resurfacing will also take place on the B1285 Byron Terrace at Seaham, from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 April.

Byron Terrace will be closed from its junction with Station Road to its junction with Seaton Lane between 9.30am and 3.30pm on the Thursday and Friday, and between 7am and 7pm on the Saturday and Sunday.

A diversion will be in place during the closures with signs advising of the route.

Resurfacing also takes place on the A689 Sedgefield Bypass from Saturday 14 to Saturday 20 April. A contraflow system will be in place with some turning restrictions and a 40mph speed limit.

Street lighting works will take place on the A693 at Chester-le-Street, from Northlands to Perkinsville, between Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 April. Lane closures will be in place as required.

Brian Buckley, the council’s strategic highways manager, said: “These various schemes are all part of our ongoing programme to maintain county roads for the benefit of all who use them.

“We plan all works to keep disruption to a minimum but thank people in advance for their patience and understanding should they be inconvenienced in any way.”

Further information about the schemes can be found at www.durham.gov.uk/roadworks and www.durham.gov.uk/nevillescrossbridge