SOUTHERN Water’s scheme to replace a water main on a busy road near Winchester has been suspended for Christmas.

Work on the B3354, Main Road, Colden Common, stops today and will resume on January 6.

A road closure will run north from the junction with Portsmouth Road B2177 at Fisher's Pond to the roundabout junction with Church Lane.

The official diversion route for the closure in 2014 (from the north) will be: Otterbourne Road, Main Road, Otterbourne Hill, Allbrook Way, Woodside Avenue, Leigh Road, Romsey Road, Bishopstoke Road, Fair Oak Road, Alan Drayton Way, Eastleigh Road and Winchester Road.

This phase was initially due to take 12 weeks but, due to the progress already made, it is hoped it can be completed within eight weeks.

Contractor Clancy Docwra will be working seven days a week, using extended hours to complete the job as quickly as possible.

The project team will liaise with customers, Hampshire County Council, Winchester City Council, parish councils, the Highways Agency, emergency services and bus companies.

Project manager Peter Simmons said: “This scheme is progressing well and I’d like to thank customers and road users for their patience so far.

“I know there are some concerns about the road closure but I can assure customers we’ll do all we can to ease disruption.

“We’ll be in the area for a few weeks but the benefits – a more reliable supply of water to customers’ taps and fewer emergency road closures – will be long term.”