Published on Tuesday 08 November 2022
Major safety improvements on a busy four-way junction on Fernside Road in Poole and at the junction of Garland Road / St Mary’s Road are now complete.
Funded through south east Dorset’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme, which is building a series of safe and sustainable travel routes across the region, the Fernside Road junction (at the intersection with Hunt Road and St Mary’s Road) now has:
- new toucan crossings (with space for both people walking and cycling) on all four arms
- dropped kerbs before and after all crossing points, to allow people on bikes to cycle from the road to the crossings
- resurfaced carriageway and pavements
A parallel crossing over Garland Road has been installed next to the new mini roundabout and the planter on the pedestrianised area of St Mary’s Road has been replaced with a tree to provide a clear route for cyclists and walkers.
Councillor Mike Greene, BCP Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Transport, said:
"Hundreds of people cross the road at these junctions every day and we’re delighted to have made these improvements. They are already making a real difference, improving safety for all those walking, cycling or scooting, particularly children and the less mobile. Traffic will also flow better as a result of changes to the traffic lights, creating better, safer journeys for everyone in the area."
Mrs Emma Hemsil, assistant head at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School said:
"The improvements on these two junctions were very much needed as they are busy junctions and most of our pupils need to cross there. Now our parents and children can walk and cycle to school much more safely."
The junction improvements form part of the TCF programme’s sustainable travel route linking Poole town centre with Ferndown and Wimborne. The next phase of proposed work on this route is planned on Ringwood Road from Hunt Road to Mountbatten Roundabout. The TCF programme is aimed at reducing congestion, improving air quality and encouraging healthy, safe, active travel across the region.
The sustainable travel improvements in the Poole area are further complemented by the TCF programme funded work currently underway along Wimborne Road between Serpentine Road and Kings Close, as well as the recent installation of new zebra and ‘raised’ table crossings on the Garland Road/Jolliffe Road junction funded through BPC Council’s Local Transport Plan.