Ringwood Road cycle, walking and bus improvements

The first phase of improvements on this section has been completed, including a new shared path for pedestrians and cyclists along Ringwood Road and crossing upgrades to make walking and cycling journeys safer and more convenient.

Following a national review of the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme by the Department for Transport, Phases 2 and 3 of the proposed improvements are on hold until further funding has been secured.

Rising construction, labour and fuel costs, growing inflation and changes to national design standards for cycling infrastructure mean south east Dorset’s original TCF budget, awarded pre-pandemic in March 2020, is no longer sufficient to build the entire network of cycle, walking and bus improvements planned across the region. 

Priority has been given to TCF schemes that link into existing sustainable travel infrastructure, providing an immediate interim level of connectivity and more continuous travel routes.

Click here to read the full announcement

For detailed information on plans for the route please visit Dorset Council’s website.

The proposals:

The work along Ringwood Road is broken into three phases:

• Phase 1 - Longham Mini Roundabouts to south of Church Road - complete
• Phase 2 - Penny's Hill Junction (Victoria Road/New Road) to Trickett’s Cross – on hold
• Phase 3 - Church Road to Penny's Hill Junction (Victoria Road/New Road) – on hold

The improvements being proposed are:

• A mixture of segregated footway and cycleway and shared footway/cycleway depending on the available width at the sides of the road. The majority of the new cycleway will be provided on the west side of the road with a small section on the east
• Upgraded bus stops, including improved accessibility and real time data screens showing upcoming arrivals
• Upgraded junctions to provide crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists
  
• An enhanced footway width and new surface, where possible.

Consultation

Plans for these improvements were informed by responses gathered during public engagement late 2020 and formal consultation which ran in spring 2021.  All responses were analysed and helped shape the final scheme designs. A report summarising the results of consultation is available here and the responses to issues raised is here.