Published on Wednesday 20 April 2022
Work is set to begin in May on the construction of new sustainable travel facilities along Wimborne Road in Poole between Denmark Lane and the New Inn junction. The project will take place in two phases and will see the area benefit from new cycle, walking and bus infrastructure improvements.
It is the first section to be built of the 7km green travel route linking Poole town centre with Merley, Poole and will link key employment, retail and education facilities including Poole High School, Longfleet Primary School and Oakdale Junior School, Canford Heath Junior School, Poole Hospital, Barclays House and Nuffield Industrial Estate.
The work is being undertaken by BCP Council and is part of the £100m+ south east Dorset Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme, a joint project between BCP and Dorset councils, the largest ever programme of investment in sustainable transport infrastructure in the region.
Improvements along Wimborne Road between Serpentine Road and Kings Close (up to the New Inn junction) include:
- Improving the Serpentine Road Roundabout with three new parallel crossings on raised tables, with footways converted to shared use for both pedestrians and cyclists
- Installing new cycle lanes on both sides of Wimborne Road between Heckford Road and New Inn junction, protected from the carriageway by a kerb with raised table crossing priority over adjoining roads (see artist’s impression).
- Upgrading the Tatnam Road/Garland Road junction, including new parallel and toucan crossings
- A new zebra crossing on Garland Road
- A new pedestrian crossing just north of Sherrin Close/Winterbourne Road junction
- New bus shelters and improving bus stop layouts
The first phase of work will start at the Serpentine Road Roundabout on 16 May 2022.
Improvements at the New Inn junction on Wimborne Roadwill follow next year and include:
- Dedicated space for cyclists linking to/from Darbys Lane, new crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists, traffic signal upgrades, and barriers removed for cyclists accessing Mellstock Road
- Widening pavements and converting them to shared use, providing more space for people cycling and walking around the junction
- Left turns from Fernside Road into Wimborne Road will be banned subject to the outcome of a separate statutory process and the dedicated turning lane removed to provide space for the new crossings.
Disruption to the travelling public will be minimised through a combination of traffic lights and temporary road closures. Construction will be undertaken in sections and affected businesses and residents will be informed about these around two weeks beforehand.
Councillor Mike Greene, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for transport and sustainability, said:
"We are pleased to be investing in safe, sustainable ways of travelling to and from Poole town centre along this busy road. The new cycle, walking and bus infrastructure improvements on Wimborne Road provide quick, safe and easy ways of travelling to and from key residential and business areas and local schools.
"The improvements along Wimborne Road will connect into the wider sustainable travel route along Darbys Lane and Canford Heath Road to Gravel Hill creating a continuous link between central Poole and Merley. They form part of our commitment to transforming local travel which will reduce road congestion and pollution, improve air quality and bring economic and health benefits."
Plans for these improvements were informed by responses gathered during public engagement late 2020 and formal consultation which ran 24 February to 31 March 2021. All responses were analysed and helped shape the final scheme designs. A public information event about the Wimborne Road, Poole scheme was held in November 2021. A report summarising the results of consultation is published here in addition to the council’s responses to the issues raised here.
The project page with further information and the design plans is available here.