MAJOR works to implement new cycle, walking and bus infrastructure on a busy road in Ferndown will start next month.
The sustainable travel improvement plans for Wimborne Road between Canford Bottom and Trickett’s Cross roundabouts will commence on March 7 and are expected to last until autumn.
Construction on the first section of the project will be between the Canford Bottom roundabout and the Cobham Road junction/entrance to Ferndown Industrial Estate in Wimborne Road West.
The second section will start on March 28 in Wimborne Road East, between Trickett’s Cross roundabout and West Moors Road.
The third and final section of work in Wimborne Road between Cobham Road and West Moors Road is anticipated to start following completion of section one in autumn. Design work is ongoing for this section and further information will be provided at a later date.
Throughout the works various traffic control measures will be installed – though the whole road will not need to be closed.
Measures will include:
- Temporary lane closure in Wimborne Road West (eastbound) for 300m from Canford Bottom roundabout. The lane closure will commence on March 7 until March 25. The westbound lane will remain open
- Temporary lane closure in Wimborne Road East (westbound) for 300m from Trickett’s Cross roundabout. The lane closure will commence on March 28 until April 14. The eastbound lane will remain open
- For both lane closures, a diversion will be in place along the A31 between the Palmersford roundabout and the Canford Bottom roundabout
The improvements form part of the 27km green travel route linking Wimborne and Ferndown with Poole town centre.
Jack Wiltshire, head of highways at Dorset Council, said: “The Ferndown Industrial Estate, which these improvements will serve, is the biggest employment area in the county and we want to be able to offer a choice of alternative travel options to help people consider leaving the car at home and choosing a greener, healthier option to get to work, education or leisure.
“South-east Dorset is one of the most congested areas of the country and we all spend too much time sat in traffic queues in our cars, simply building more roads is not an option. We have got to get more people out of their cars and using other forms of travel particularly for short journeys.”
The work being undertaken between the Canford Bottom roundabout and the Cobham Road junction, will include:
- Converting the existing footway on the north side of Wimborne Road West to a new 3.5m-wide shared use facility for both walking and cycling
- Upgrading bus stops along the route
- Improving the junction layouts at Stapehill Road and Uddens Drive
- Cobham Road junction redesigned and new technology introduced. New crossings will be installed, with a segregated cycle and pedestrian crossing over Cobham Road and a pedestrian crossing over Wimborne Road
- Improved wayfinding signage
During this part of the project, Dorset Council will also be working with SGN who will replace a gas main between Uddens Drive and Cobham Road.
The second phase of work being undertaken between the Trickett Cross roundabout and the West Moors Road junction, will include:
- A new toucan crossing in Wimborne Road East near Trickett’s Cross roundabout
- More priority for cyclists and pedestrians at the junctions of Wimborne Road East and adjoining roads
- Accessibility improvements, including dropped kerbs and tactile paving, at the junctions of Wimborne Road East and adjoining roads
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