ROADWORKS to build a new cycle lane in Wallisdown Road are to continue for “a few more weeks”, BCP Council has confirmed.
Heavy rainfall has been blamed for the additional time needed to complete the ‘improvements’, which will resume in the new year after the Christmas break.
They were originally due to be completed on Friday, December 16.
The busy road has been closed westbound since the beginning of October as the council extends its existing extra-wide two-way cycle lanes.
Motorists have been left frustrated as traffic has built up eastbound and on the diversion route through Turbary Park Avenue.
Read more: Wallisdown Road to close for 10 weeks to install cycle lanes
A BCP spokesperson said: “The improvements to Wallisdown Road will help reduce journey times and encourage more residents, businesses and students to embrace healthier and environmentally sustainable modes of travel.
“The recent heavy rainfall has had a significant impact on the planned programme of works, so we are extending the westbound closure of Wallisdown Road for a few more weeks.
“We understand how much residents travel around our towns during the Christmas period to see family, friends or enjoy shopping on our high streets.
“For this reason, the westbound closure will be lifted for Christmas and not in place between 22 December and 3 January.
Read more: What do YOU think of the upcoming Wallisdown Road cycle lanes?
“In the New Year, we’ll continue to use additional team members on site to complete these improvements as soon as possible.
“We look forward to more people enjoying the freedom to make new sustainable travel choices in 2023, which will help to transform the way people get around BCP.”
Last week, Morebus general manager said bus services have been experiencing “severe delays” which have “coincided with the westbound closure of Wallisdown Road, which we know to be an alternative route to the A338 for traffic heading from Bournemouth to Poole.”
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.
The council’s ‘improvements’ of the Wallisdown area started near Mountbatten Arms in November 2020.
The two-way cycle lane made headlines last year when motorists criticised it as being “unsightly” and “too big”.
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