Works to improve pedestrian, cycling and traffic facilities on a busy main road in Poole have reached the next stage.
Major improvement works will be carried out in the central area of Ashley Road, between Jubilee Road and Albert Road, from Monday 1 September. The works, costing approximately £500,000, are in response to last year’s public engagement exercise which clearly showed that local people wanted the central area to be the main focus of travel improvements.
This section of the road will soon benefit from:
- separate on-road parking and bus lay-bys to ensure buses can pull right in to the bus stop, enabling traffic to keep flowing;
- two new bus stops and bus stop shelters in the vicinity of the Co-op and the Conservative Club, which include integral seating and satellite-linked real time information displays;
- a new centrally located and upgraded signal controlled pedestrian crossing and two pedestrian refuge (island) crossings, all raised to pavement level;
- improvements to the local environment including removing unnecessary signs and street furniture, reducing the road width in some areas to widen the footways and new landscaping with some trees.
During the works there will be no planned road or junction closures. However, to enable certain works to be undertaken, there will be temporary traffic signals for limited periods of time outside of peak hours to minimise disruption to road users.
Although bus stops will be temporarily moved during the works, buses will still be able to stop in the immediate area. Local businesses will be operating as usual and on-street car parking will be maintained as far as practicable.
The works, which are part of a wider £1 million improvement programme for Ashley Road, will continue until the end of November when there will be a complete break for five weeks in the busy run up to Christmas. Works will start again in January and should be completed by the end of March 2015.
Councillor Ian Potter, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Borough of Poole, said: “The improvements are part of the Three Towns Travel project which aims to promote sustainable travel across the conurbation of Poole, Bournemouth, and Christchurch along the busy A35 corridor. Schemes are designed to encourage people to choose more environmentally friendly forms of travel. Relying less on the car will help reduce congestion on roads, improve air quality, support the local economy and make public spaces more attractive.
“We have already completed improvements at the Mansfield Road and Richmond Road junctions. The works starting in September are the final phase of the £1million for improving travel in Ashley Road. We would like to thank drivers in advance for their patience and understanding while these improvements are carried out.”
The work programme has been developed to seek a balance between getting the work done as quickly as possible while minimising disruption to pedestrians, residents, businesses and road users. Towards the end of the scheme, some planned nearby re-surfacing works will also take place to further enhance Ashley Road.
Cllr Marion Le Poidevin, Ward Member for Branksome West, Borough of Poole, said: “These works will make Ashley Road a much more pleasant area for shoppers. Local people were involved in drawing up the scheme and I hope they will think that the end result makes any disruption while the job is in progress worthwhile.”
