BEFORE the gain, there is pain.

Thousands of drivers are set for a long hot summer of waiting as the county council builds the new park and ride that it claims will ease congestion.

Work on Winchester’s new £7.1 million park and ride, south of the city, is stepping up a gear, with roadworks scheduled into the summer.

The work is set to cause traffic disruption, but the county council says it will try to keep it to a minimum.

The county council has released details of the schedule for the building of the controversial scheme.

Work on the Otterbourne Road entrance started on May 18, and will continue for approximately three weeks.

Improvements are also being made to Bushfield roundabout and Hockley Link.

They include:  allowing two lanes of traffic to flow from Badger Farm Road, around the roundabout to Hockley Link;  repairing part of the roundabout surfacing;  providing a shared footway/cycleway around the roundabout to link to the park and ride site along Otterbourne Road.

Potentially disruptive work on the four roads, Otterbourne Road, Badger Farm Road, Hockley Link and St Cross Road, starts next Monday, June 8.

It includes repairs to the road edge on Hockley Link, widening and island works. At the same time, footways on Otterbourne Road and Badger Farm Road will be built.

Work will be carried out using traffic signals and lane closures — no road closures will be required at this stage.

From July 31, for a week there will be surfacing and widening works on Bushfield roundabout. Work will be done 24 hours-a-day with traffic restricted to one lane.

Then work moves on to resurfacing the north of Bushfield roundabout with the southbound-only road closure of Badger Farm Road.

This will take place over two weekends in August to minimise disruption, with advance notice for motorists nearer the time and signed diversion routes in place.

And from July 31 to August 8 the footways will be completed during off peak hours with stop/go signs or two way traffic lights.

The 864-space south Winchester park and ride is planned to open next spring, and will include toilets, bus information, shelters and waiting areas.

A ‘green’ roof with low-level planting will help blend the building into the surrounding landscape. CCTV coverage and lighting will enhance security, with lamps designed to reduce upward light.

Environmental campaigner Alan Weeks said: “The problem with park and ride is that it encourages car use which is not what one wants.”

The ex-chairman of Winchester Residents’ Association added: “However, the south Winchester park and ride does have the advantage of keeping traffic out of central Winchester.”