A BUS company has announced plans to temporarily change one of its routes in the wake of a major city roadwork scheme.

Bluestar will divert its Bluestar One while engineers carry out vital repair work on Bassett Avenue – due to start next Sunday.

Southbound buses on the service, between Southampton and Winchester, will be diverted via Bassett Green Road and onto Stoneham Lane.

They will then turn into Burgess Road, before rejoining Bassett Avenue and continuing as normal.

Southbound stops will be at Hilton Hotel in Chilworth or the Global Technology Centre at the junction of Burgess Road and The Avenue.

Northbound buses will not be diverted while the works are in place.

Richard Tyldsley, Bluestar general manager, said: “The changes are likely to add between 10 and 15 minutes to journeys into Southampton.

“But we are adding extra buses to the route and will be doing our best to ensure our services run to time.

“Our team has worked hard to make sure those wishing to travel through the area by bus are still able to do so with as little disruption as possible.”

The temporary changes will come into force from Monday, February 12.

This will coincide with phase one of the three-month project on Bassett Avenue – set to begin from 8pm on Sunday, February 11.

Expected to last four weeks, the work will be accompanied by 24 hour closures for all city-bound traffic.

Two outbound lanes will be maintained during the work and will also be used to allow access for residents.

This will be followed by the first resurfacing of the road in 16 years, which is expected to start on March 12 and could take up to three weeks.

It will be carried out at night, with the road closed to traffic in both directions from 9pm to 6am.

Engineers will return in April or May to lay an anti-skid surface, but this will not lead to closures.

Despite the likely disruption, chairman of the North West Bassett Residents Association, Peter Garvey, said he was pleased the road was being repaired.

Mr Garvey, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, said: “This is absolutely essential work – the road has become dangerous.

“There will be disruption but it will be worth the inconvenience because it is for the greater good.

“It will probably affect a lot of people but we will overcome it.”