A KEY Worcester road will close overnight next week as part of a £33 million revamp - with drivers warned to expect congestion.

The Broomhall Way section of the city's A4440 Southern Link Road, between the Ketch island and Norton roundabout, will shut from 8pm to 6am for the carriageway to be dualled.

The closure will kick in this Sunday and last until Friday, February 20 so workers can lay new surfacing.

It means motorists from the Whittington junction will be diverted towards London Road and Sidbury, while three-way traffic lights will be in place at the Ketch island.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, deputy leader and cabinet member for skills, economy and infrastructure, said: "This work is happening overnight and during half-term to minimise any inconvenience as much as possible.

"in advance we'd like to thank motorists for their patience while it is taking place.

"This is part of a phased approach to dealing with one of the most congested routes in the county, which will benefit motorists by improving transport links and infrastructure, helping to boost the local economy."

Work on the £33 million revamp is picking up apace, with the first real milestone on target to be reached in June.

The county council is on track to finish at the Ketch roundabout in four months, by which time it will have nearly doubled in size at a cost of £8 million.

Workers have dig up one entire side of Broomhall Way in preparation for next week's work.

As part of the scheme the carriageway will be dual-tracked towards Norton island, as this image shows.

Later this year the next phase will then start, dualling the route from Norton to the Whittington junction by the M5 junction seven, which will carry on until 2018.

The road is used by around 30,000 vehicles a day and is among Worcester's most congested at peak times.