Published on Wednesday 29 October 2025
Councillor Andy Hadley said:
“There’s never a good time to close a busy road and I completely understand the inconvenience and frustration road closures cause.
“No-one enjoys them, but they are necessary to allow our teams to carry out much-needed improvements.
“I want to be clear that the roadworks are being carried out in phases - at no point will both sides of the A35 be closed; its Eastbound towards Highcliffe for two weeks and then Westbound towards Bournemouth for one week.
“We are listening and, as with all large-scale projects of this kind, constantly monitoring where improvements to the process can be made.
“We have already adjusted the signals on Bridge Street, and the signs on the surrounding areas, which is improving the flow of traffic
“We have seen illegal parking at times blocking the high street and Purewell, and we will be deploying additional wardens to manage this; as well as to prevent HGVs from disregarding the weight restrictions, ignoring the signposted diversion and attempting to access the High Street.
“It’s no secret that the A35 is one of our most-used roads and that comes with frequent braking and acceleration - all of which causes stress and wear to the road surface.
“The work that we are doing will improve the resilience of the surface for years to come, reducing the need for frequent future works.
“We’re maximising the work that we do during the closure period with teams also carrying out essential repairs, safety improvement projects, gully cleaning, and clearing vegetation, to minimise the need for further disruption.
“Our team is working around the clock - day and night - to complete these works, using specialised materials that are known for their longevity.
“Unfortunately, this type of work cannot be carried out in the busy summer months and can't usually be carried out in winter temperatures; so, the work could either be carried out now or closer to Easter.
“I know that road closures can be frustrating, but these improvements are vital to ensure the safety and condition of our road network, and we appreciate residents’ patience while we carry out this essential work.”
For more information about the works, please visit these pages:
Areas of Christchurch to undergo essential road works | BCP
The decisions behind the roadworks | Transforming Travel