Work is to begin on 7 March and motorists will face lane closures and diversions along Wimborne Road from Canford Bottom roundabout to the West Moors Road.

Construction on the first section of the project commences on 7 March between the Canford Bottom Roundabout and the Cobham Road junction/ entrance to Ferndown Industrial Estate on Wimborne Road West.

The second section will start on 28 March on Wimborne Road East, between Trickett’s Cross Roundabout and West Moors Road.

The final third section of work on Wimborne Road between Cobham Road and West Moors Road is anticipated to start following completion of section one in the autumn. Design work is ongoing for this section and further information will be provided at a later date.

Works will include:

• A temporary lane closure on Wimborne Road West (eastbound) for 300m from Canford Bottom roundabout from 7 March until 25 March. The westbound lane will remain open.
• A temporary lane closure on Wimborne Road East (westbound) for 300m from Trickett’s Cross roundabout from 28 March until 14 April. The eastbound lane will remain open.
• For both of these lane closures, a diversion will be in place along the A31 between the Palmersford Roundabout and the Canford Bottom Roundabout.

These sustainable travel improvements form part of the 27km green travel route linking Wimborne and Ferndown with Poole town centre. Other works underway on this route include the green travel improvements on Leigh Road (Wimborne and Colehill), Ringwood Road (Ferndown) and Fernside Road (Poole).

The improvements will also connect to the Castleman Trailway.

Jack Wiltshire, head of Highways at Dorset Council, said: “It is great that we are now getting on with these travel improvements. The Ferndown Industrial Estate, which these improvements will serve, is the biggest employment area in the county and we want to be able to offer a choice of alternative travel options to help people consider leaving the car at home and choosing a greener, healthier option to get to work, education or leisure.

“South-east Dorset is one of the most congested areas of the country and we all spend too much time sat in traffic queues in our cars, simply building more roads is not an option. We have got to get more people out of their cars and using other forms of travel particularly for short journeys, thus easing the congestion and allowing those who still need to drive, to get to their destinations more quickly and easily.”

The work being undertaken between the Canford Bottom Roundabout and the Cobham Road junction, will include:

• Converting the existing footway on the north side of Wimborne Road West to a new 3.5m-wide shared use facility for both walking and cycling, with wildflower planting introduced along the route. This will connect into the Castleman Trailway and the existing walking and cycling facilities on Canford Bottom Roundabout.
• Upgrading bus stops along the route, with new shelters and real time information introduced, and improved accessibility.
• Removing the dedicated right-turn lane for traffic into Stapehill Abbey to provide space for the shared use walking and cycling path. Vehicles will still be able to turn right into the road.
• Improving the junctions at Stapehill Road and Uddens Drive, with layouts enhanced to improve safety and the introduction of a signalised crossing point.
• Improving Cobham Road, with the junction redesigned and new technology introduced. The dedicated left-turn lane into Ferndown Industrial Estate will remain. New crossings will be installed, with a segregated cycle and pedestrian crossing over Cobham Road and a pedestrian crossing over Wimborne Road providing access to the westbound bus stop.
• Upgrading bus stop locations along the route, including two new shelters at Uddens Drive.
• Improved wayfinding signage for pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooter users.
• Two bus stop laybys and one regular layby on the north side of the road will be removed to provide space for the shared path.

During this part of the project, Dorset Council will also be working together with Southern Gas Networks (SGN), who will be replacing a gas main between Uddens Drive and Cobham Road. Their work will be undertaken alongside the improvements work.

The second phase of work being undertaken between the Trickett Cross Roundabout and the West Moors Road junction, will include:

• A new toucan crossing on Wimborne Road East near Trickett’s Cross Roundabout.
• Converting the existing footway on the north side of Wimborne Road East to a new shared path between Trickett’s Cross Roundabout and West Moors Road.
• More priority for cyclists and pedestrians at the junctions of Wimborne Road East and adjoining roads on the north side.
• Accessibility improvements, including dropped kerbs and tactile paving, at the junctions of Wimborne Road East and adjoining roads on the south side.
• Improved wayfinding signage for pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooter users.