A MAJOR road in Basingstoke will be closed until the end of October whilst engineers strengthen a railway bridge.

Worting Road is closed between the roundabout at Roman Way and the Old Kempshott Lane junction, and will remain closed until 10pm on Sunday, October 31.

Rail users will also face disruption, with trains stopped overnight across three weekends, and residents warned about "noisy structural works".

In a letter to residents, Network Rail, the body responsible for the upkeep of the country's railways, said that there is "essential bridge strengthening work" taking place to increase its lifespan.

"The footpath between Worting Road and Roman Road will remain open but there will be security fencing for public safety," the letter continued.

"We realise the road closure is likely to cause a slower flow of traffic through this area and we're sorry for delays and inconvenience this essential work causes."

Acoustic barriers will be set up to reduce noise to neighbours, but residents have been warned about noisy works whilst the railway lines are closed.

The bridge, which trains travelling to destinations such as Bournemouth, Weymouth, Salisbury and Exeter would use, will be closed to trains between 10pm and 6am from: Saturday, September 25 to Monday, September 27; Saturday, October 9 to Monday, October 11; and Saturday, October 23 to Monday, October 25.

During these times, "the railway will be closed to allow us to carry out noisy structural works", the letter reads.

"We'll be replacing sections and reinforcing steel girders on the top of the bridge.

"We'll use rivel-busters, cutting equipment, pneumatic tools and welders to secure reinforcing steel parts.

"We'll also sandblast existing paint off the steelwork and repaint the bridge."

The diversion will see road users taken up Roman Road, along the A339 and Ring Road to Thornycroft roundabout, and back along Worting Road.

The B3400 connects Andover with Basingstoke, via Whitchurch and Overton.