MOTORISTS look set to face major delays during peak hours when a major road in Basing View is closed this weekend to build a landmark John Lewis at home and Waitrose store.

As previously reported by The Gazette, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council gave the go-ahead to the new multi-million-pound John Lewis at home and Waitrose store in March.

As part of the construction work to build the landmark store, contractor Bowmer and Kirkland Limited will be closing a section of Basing View between Lower Basing View and the mini-roundabout near Norn Hill Bridge.

The road, which will need to be moved across to make way for the new store, will be closed from 6pm on Sunday until March next year, meaning that all traffic will be diverted through the centre of Basing View.

Access to and from Basing View will still be possible from Eastrop roundabout and Norn Hill but motorists should be prepared to expect delays during the morning and evening peak periods while the diversion is in place.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, working with Hampshire County Council and Bowmer and Kirkland, will be monitoring traffic levels during this time to review whether any additional temporary traffic management measures are necessary to help particular junctions.

As part of the measures to reduce traffic on the roads during this time, the borough council is offering business users in Basing View free Centre Shuttle passes and over 700 of these have already been issued.

To cope with the increase in usage of the Centre Shuttle, an additional bus will be in place to provide additional services and new temporary bus stops will also be created along the diversion route for both Centre Shuttle and Stagecoach buses.

The route of the Centre Shuttle will be restricted to lower Basing View only during this period. The last stop for the Centre Shuttle will be outside the AA building.

For those people who have to travel by car to Basing View, it is advised to consider staggered start and finish times if possible to avoid large volumes of traffic at peak times.

Cabinet member for property, finance and commissioning, Councillor John Izett, said: “Closing this section of the road is an essential part of the work to create a new road for the Waitrose and John Lewis at home store.

“We are concerned that this closure will result in delays for motorists travelling to and from Basing View and into the town centre, therefore we are working with the contractor, Hampshire County Council and businesses at Basing View to try to reduce this as much as possible.”