DRIVERS face delays as three months of roadworks get under way in the region on Monday.

The £1.2m scheme on the A167 at Chester-le-Street, between Blind Lane A1(M) interchange and Ropery Lane Roundabout, will include strengthening the Roman Avenue footbridge and Chester-le-Street bypass bridge and work on the carriageway.

Shaun Cullumbine, Highways Agency project sponsor said: "The works will be carried out in a number of phases.

"Traffic management will be complex and there will be regular changes to the road layout. We would ask road users to take extra care in this area while the work is in operation or try to find an alternative route.

"Traffic management will at times be employed throughout the day resulting in severe delays, longer than 30 minutes, especially at peak times, but we shall keep these to the minimum.

"This is to maintain the safety of the workforce and the travelling public. Full closures of the A167 will be limited to night time.

"By carrying out the road and bridge works at the same time, we are effectively combining two pieces of work into one to reduce the impact on the travelling public."

A 30mph speed limit will operate throughout the scheme.