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News

Mountbatten Arms Junction Improvements Completed

Improvement and maintenance works to the major roundabout at the junction of Ringwood Road and Wallisdown Road are due to complete this weekend. The new traffic signals will be officially switched on by Cllr Ron Parker, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Local Economy including Transportation,  at mid-day on Sunday 27 June.

Having had a delayed start back in April so as to avoid the major re-surfacing works on the Wessex Way in Bournemouth, works have been undertaken either during the day or most recently overnight in order to try and minimise the effect on the public. Completing the work by the end of June was right on target compared with the original programme.

John Sayers, Maintenance Manager, Transportation, Borough of Poole, said: “We realise that there has inevitably been some unavoidable disruption to traffic on one of our busiest junctions but hope that the travelling public will have seen the work has been carried out as efficiently as possible. For example as part of the resurfacing works undertaken at night last week the new lane markings were down and the road open to traffic within a couple of hours.”

The scheme has involved installing traffic signals on all of the main approaches, local road widening, lane markings on the roundabout and the creation of footways and cycleways. Extensive essential maintenance has also been carried out at this time to avoid the need for future disturbance.

The Mountbatten Arms junction is currently the fifth worst accident site in Poole with an average of four injury accidents a year. Casualties were significantly reduced when signals were introduced at Fleetsbridge roundabout some years ago.

Councillor Ron Parker, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Local Economy including Transportation, said: “I know some people have reservations about the number of traffic signals on our roads but at a junction like this, without such controls, it would never be possible to deal with the peak hour congestion. And even though it may take slightly longer to drive through at other times, you can be assured that signals will make it a lot safer for all road users.

“Crossing facilities will also make movement across the junction very much easier for pedestrians and cyclists, although the signal equipment is such that this should not cause unnecessary delays to through traffic. It should be a real benefit to everyone.”

The £540,000 scheme has been primarily funded by Poole, together with a contribution from Bournemouth from a Government allocation supporting transportation across the conurbation. The nearby B & Q development also contributed towards the scheme through planning requirements.

John Sayers, Maintenance Manager, Transportation Borough of Poole. Tel No: 01202 262206