Poole braced for more traffic as Herbert Avenue closes for two weeks

Herbert Avenue in Poole is set to essentially be “cut in half” from Monday, February 13, as work to install a wastewater sewer connection to a new development begins. 

The road will be fully closed between the junctions of Rossmore Road and Northmere Road until Friday, February 24. 

BCP Council said they have arranged for the work to be completed during the school half term break and have asked South West Water to complete other related work during the same period to “avoid disruption”. 

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Herbert Avenue (Image: Daily Echo)

A spokeswoman said: “BCP Council receives around 25,000 requests to excavate in the public highway each year. We work with utility companies and developers to minimise the impact of roadworks as far as it is possible. 

“The works on Herbert Avenue in Poole from 13th February to 24th February 2023, are for a wastewater sewer connection to new development by O’Marah Construction. 

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“We have minimised disruption by asking them to complete these works during the school half term break. 

“We have also arranged for South West Water and other related works to be completed under the same closure to avoid disruption at future times. 

Herbert Avenue (Image: Daily Echo)

“The local school has been contacted and signs will be place reminding motorists that all non-school and residential traffic will need to use the Alder Road diversion.” 

Full emergency service access will be maintained throughout the time. 

Ward councillor Cllr Tony Trent said he was concerned people will not be given enough notice and awareness of the road closure and hopes proper signage will be in place during the two weeks to avoid disruption.  

He said: “Hopefully they [the council] do a better job of putting a diversion and signage warning people in place than they did with Wallisdown Road. 

“What we don’t want is disrupted traffic. There will be a lot more main traffic coming through the residential areas from the roadworks. 

“They need to rethink how they do this, so we don’t see the same problems arise again. Hopefully lessons have been learned.” 

Further roadworks will be taking place in Yarmouth Road, Poole, at the same time as the work in Herbert Avenue. 

Phased closures of the road will take place between February 13 and March 10, as the road is being resurfaced between the junction with Alder Road and the roundabout at Bourne Valley Road.

Both diversion routes will take drivers along Alder Road and up to the Wallisdown roundabout. Vehicles following the Herbert Avenue closure will be diverted towards the Moutbatten Roundabout, and those following the Yarmouth Road diversion will be taken towards the University.