Work to improve road safety at an accident blackspot in Petersfield that has seen more than 50 accidents in 14 years should start in just over a fortnight.

Hampshire County Council (HCC) has confirmed that work to raise the height of the “deadly” Durford crossroads on Pulens Lane will begin on November 2.

The announcement follows a decades-old bid for safety improvements to be made at the junction.

An accident earlier this year prompted more than 1,200 people to sign a petition calling for improvements, with the Post launching a ‘Get On With It’ campaign in a bid to speed up work that should have begun last year.

The project will take place in five stages with work on the first expected to take a month.

There will be no access to Durford Road and Heath Road from the junction, and vice-versa, during the period, while two-way traffic lights will be installed on Pulens Lane.

Work is expected to take place from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays and from 8am to 2pm on Saturdays.

The second stage is scheduled to begin on November 25 and will see a crossing installed close to Montague Gardens and a raised table earmarked for a point on Heath Road East.

A letter will soon be circulated to residents with full details of the works. The procurement took longer than expected with HCC appointing Knights Brown to undertake the 11-week project.

Cllr David Podger, HCC member for Petersfield Butser, was happy to confirm the news as there previously had been silence over the start date.

He said: “There had been concern from residents about when it would start as it did originally say October.

“But I’ve received communication from the officer responsible for the work and they’ve notified the town council and district council.”