Wallisdown Road to close for 10 weeks to install cycle lanes

Wallisdown Road, westbound, between the junctions of Scott Road and Byrant Road, will be closed for approximately 10 weeks. 

A signed diversion route will be put in place during this time and a temporary 20mph speed limit will be introduced to “maintain the safety of those working on site”. 

The work is part of the next phase of BCP Council’s installation of a cycle lane, as well as pedestrian crossings and bus stops, along the Wallisdown corridor and will take approximately five months to complete. 

Wallisdown Road closure to build more cycle lanes. Image by BCP (Image: BCP Council)

Councillor Mike Greene, BCP Council portfolio holder for transport and sustainability, said: “Giving more people the freedom, confidence and ability to make sustainable travel choices is a key priority for the council.  

“By improving Wallisdown Road, a major connecting route between our three towns, we will help reduce journey times and encourage more people to embrace healthier and environmentally sustainable modes of travel.  

Read more: Letter to the Editor: Wallisdown Road work not worth it

“We will also be contributing positively towards our wider transforming travel initiative. 

“Whilst we complete the transformation of this important route, I would ask residents for patience and to explore other travel options, such as giving our Beryl bike scheme a go.”

Wallisdown Road (Image: BNPS) 

Two diversion routes will be in place:  Alder Road, Herbert Avenue and Ringwood Road and the second through Kinson Road, Turbary Park Road, Poole Lane and Ringwood Road.

The council’s ‘improvements’ of the Wallisdown area started near Mountbatten Arms in November 2020 – including a cycle lane along the busy Wallisdown Road. 

Read more: BH Active Travel reacts to Wallisdown Road cycle lane works

The two-way cycle lane made headlines last year when motorists criticised it as being “unsightly” and “too big”. 

The two-way cycle lanes are 9.5ft wide, meaning cyclists and walkers have a combined 33ft of room, while the carriageway for vehicles has been narrowed to just over 10ft per lane. 

BH Active Travel argued the lanes are built to the new guidelines from the Department for Transport and that they are “100 per cent true that they are not being used to capacity – much like our roads 30 years ago.” 

Additional work has included new controlled crossings near Sunnymoor Road, as well as tree planting and landscaping to create a more attractive area for residents.