SIX months of travel disruption is expected along a busy Poole route when work on a new double cycle lane and bus lane begins.
Planned work along Ringwood Road through Poole including a new two-way protected cycle lane on the eastern side of Ringwood Road, between Alderney Roundabout Hunt Road, will begin in September.
Already agreed plans from 2023 reveal other work includes more priority for cyclists and pedestrians at the junctions of Ringwood Road and adjoining roads along with narrower traffic lanes.
Meanwhile, BCP Council will also install a new southbound bus lane along Ringwood Road, between the mini roundabouts at Herbert Avenue and Sea View Road.
Ten bus stops will be upgraded along the route to include new shelters with real-time information screens.
And improvements to the Old Wareham Road roundabout are planned to include new crossings and a shared-use path.
Various pedestrian crossings, pavement upgrades and lane adjustments – including the removal of right turn lanes – will also be included along with road resurfacing.
Once all the work is done, there will be no right-turn from Ringwood Road into Rossmore Road and the access road to Halfords.
The entire work is expected to last from September 2 until February 19, according to BCP Council – but this could change.
Signed diversion routes will be in place during the work, including along Wallisdown Road, Alder Road and Ashley Road.
At this point, it’s not clear how the phased closures will look along the road; BCP Council has been asked for more details.
Confirmed phase closures already set are in Ringwood Road between Alderney Roundabout and Mountbatten Roundabout.
On Monday, September 9, the road will be closed northbound between 10pm and 6am and the following night it will be closed southbound.
The work is part of the £102m transforming cities fund (TCF) for the south east Dorset region – a grant handed to BCP and Dorset councils.
The investment was due to deliver 78 kilometres of new cycle and walking options and bus improvements across six “sustainable travel routes”.
But last year it was confirmed to the Echo that large chunks of it will be axed as the budget can no longer cover the costs.
A consultation was held in 2021 for the planned work, with criticism from residents and one businesswoman that said it would “kill off” her business.
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