Published on Monday 25 October 2021
Work will begin on new sustainable travel facilities along Ringwood Road in Ferndown on 1 November 2021. The project will take place in three phases and will involve the construction of a new 3.2km cycle and walking route and bus improvements along Ringwood Road between Longham mini roundabouts and Tricketts Cross roundabout.
It will eventually form part of the 27km green travel route linking Ferndown and Wimborne with Poole town centre, which includes the new cycle and walking path currently underway on Leigh Road and Wimborne Road West.
The first phase of work on Ringwood Road is between Longham Mini Roundabouts and south of Church Road. Due to complete around late April 2022, the work is being undertaken by Dorset Council and is part of the £100m+ south east Dorset Transforming Cities Fund programme, a joint project between Dorset Council and BCP Council, the largest ever programme of investment in sustainable transport infrastructure in the region.
- Phase one improvements along the 1.5km section of Ringwood Road between Longham Mini Roundabouts and south of Church Road (November 1 2021 to April 2022) include:
- The existing footway on the western side of Ringwood Road will be upgraded providing a 3m-wide shared use path for walking and cycling between Pompeys Lane and Longacre Drive.
- The existing central island near Woodland Avenue will be widened providing a safe crossing point over Ringwood Road and access into Holmwood Park development with cycle signage through to Christchurch Road.
- Six bus stop locations along the route will be upgraded, including accessibility improvements.
The pedestrian footway and crossing point at St Just Close will be improved. - The redundant speed camera on Ringwood Road, near Clifton Gardens, will be removed.
- The Ringwood Road/Casterbridge Road signal-controlled junction will be improved and provide enhanced facilities for pedestrians.
- The junctions of side roads on the west side of Ringwood Road will be revised giving more priority to people walking and cycling.
- The existing footpath at the Church Road junction linking to Brabourne Avenue will be widened and converted to a footway/cycle route.
- Improvements between Longacre Drive and Church Road will take place as part of phase three works
Phase twowork (provisional start/end construction dates: May 2022 to January 2023) on Ringwood Road between Penny’s Hill Junction (Victoria Road/New Road) and Tricketts Crossis still under design.
Phase threework (provisional start/end construction dates: February 2023 to June 2023) on Ringwood Road between Church Road and Penny’s Hill Junction (Victoria Road/New Road)is still under design and subject to further public consultation in early 2022.
A review of existing speed limits has been undertaken alongside the TCF scheme development and the speed limit will be reduced from 40mph to 30mph on the majority of the length of Ringwood Road and delivered alongside works.
To minimise traffic disruption and maximise efficiencies, construction will be undertaken in 400m sections. Traffic will be managed with a mix of traffic lights and stop/go boards with a reduced 30mph speed limit in place.
Plans for these improvements were informed by responses gathered during public engagement late 2020 and formal consultation which ran 10 May to 14 June this year. All responses were analysed and helped shape the final scheme designs. A report summarising the results of consultation is available here.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment said:
"South East Dorset is one of the most congested regions in the country. Over 19,000 vehicles use Ringwood Road everyday including a large number of heavy goods vehicles. We need to provide alternative ways for people to get to work, education, the shops or leisure, particularly for shorter journeys.
"One of the main reasons preventing people from cycling is traffic safety concerns and there is currently limited safe cycling provision on this busy road. This dedicated cycling and walking space will address this issue, creating more of a neighbourhood community road and helping residents enjoy the area more by foot, bike, scooter, mobility scooter and wheelchair.
"The improvements will transform local travel, help to reduce road congestion and pollution, improve air quality and bring economic and health benefits."