Council announces £3.4m transport improvements

A Dorset council is investing £3.4m in more sustainable transport links.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council announced plans after gaining government funding.

The work includes construction of new walking and cycling paths, crossings, a road junction and street lighting improvements.

The upgrades will be carried out at Redhill Roundabout and the Muscliffe Lane and Castle Lane West junction.

In a statement, the authority said it will form part of a "sustainable travel route" between Merley, Poole and Christchurch.

It said engineers would be reusing existing road materials, and new traffic signals would be refurbished to use more energy efficient technology.

The go ahead for the work comes after a public consultation between February and June 2021 and the authority said all responses "were analysed to help shape the final scheme designs".

Councillor Rich Herrett said: "Redhill Roundabout is a busy pinch point for cars and navigating it by bike or foot can be daunting.

"The new paths and crossings will enable people, including local schoolchildren, to walk and cycle safely around the roundabout away from traffic and continue their onward journeys to Northbourne, Moordown and Muscliff."

He added the improvements to Wimborne Road would ensure "the road remains fit for purpose for the thousands of cars and vehicles using it every day".

The first phase of roadworks will start on 31 March along Wimborne Road from Northbourne Roundabout to Ferncroft Road and is expected to take a month.

Improvements to the junction of Muscliffe Lane and Castle Lane West then follow in May, as well as resurfacing in Wimborne Road from Redhill Roundabout to just east off Muscliffe Lane.

The final phase, due to start in June, will focus on the improvements at Redhill Roundabout.

The work is expected to be finished by October.

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