Fury as roadworks cause gridlock across Bournemouth

9:24am Wednesday 20th February 2013 in News By Will Frampton

Fury as roadworks cause gridlock across Bournemouth Fury as roadworks cause gridlock across Bournemouth

MAJOR half-term roadworks across Bournemouth caused gridlock yesterday leading to widespread delays.

Resurfacing is taking place on Christchurch between St Swithun’s Road roundabout and Manor Road, part of the Three Towns Travel initiative to improve journeys between Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

Further congestion resulted from Bournemouth council works to construct a central island in Bath Hill in the town centre, as well as gas works in Alma Road, Winton and Charminster Road and water works in Poole Road.

The works led to delays of up to 30 minutes on Yellow Bus routes through the town.

Some car drivers, meanwhile, reported taking up to an hour to get from Boscombe to the town centre.

One said: “It isn’t a great advert for Bournemouth for anyone visiting.”

Yellow Buses’ marketing head Jenni Wilkinson said the bus network had suffered numerous delays as a result of 23 planned roadworks.

“This seriously impacts on bus services, other road users and affects local businesses,” she said.

“These are in addition to the many emergency or temporary works that happen without any notice and commence regardless of the disruption other roadworks in the area may be causing.

“Currently, some of our bus services are being affected on multiple sections of their route. And although we will do all we can to mitigate and manage delays, it is becoming virtually impossible due to the unusually high number of roadworks.

“Unfortunately, the delays are compounded by local traffic looking for alternative routes.”

Nigel Hedges, president of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said the works were necessary to modernise the town’s infrastructure.

“There is never a good time to have roadworks but there is less traffic during half-term and parents are more likely to take their kids out to attractions rather than the shops these days,” he said.

“The problem is Bournemouth is three-sided, unless you have a submarine, and if one main road is blocked, it affects all the others.”

Council highways design manager Anthony Kirby said: “In terms of the Christchurch Road resurfacing works, traffic levels during the peak morning and late afternoon periods typically reduce during the school holidays.

“This presented an opportunity for works to be undertaken during this normally busy period, extending the contractors’ hours around these times to establish a longer than normal 12-hour working shift.

“While we acknowledge that there will still be periods of disruption to traffic, we have been able to ensure that the road works are completed within one week.”

Comments(30)

afcbalex says...
9:36am Wed 20 Feb 13

“The problem is Bournemouth is three-sided, unless you have a submarine, and if one main road is blocked, it affects all the others.”

Then don't do road works on all of them at the same time, you flaming idiot!

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speedy231278 says...
9:59am Wed 20 Feb 13

The trouble is that people are lazy, and most want to drive short distances rather than walk. It doesn't help when all the bus routes overlap for a good portion of the journey, and the stops are ridiculously close together on the main drags, leading to severe congestion even on relatively quiet days. Quite simply, there are too many vehicles trying to get to the same place at the same time, with inevitable consequences, never mind roadworks making things worse.

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twynham says...
10:05am Wed 20 Feb 13

Is all this confusion why LiveTravel is concentrating on Salisbury?!?

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afcbalex says...
10:12am Wed 20 Feb 13

"The trouble is that people are lazy, and most want to drive short distances rather than walk. It doesn't help when all the bus routes overlap for a good portion of the journey, and the stops are ridiculously close together on the main drags, leading to severe congestion even on relatively quiet days. Quite simply, there are too many vehicles trying to get to the same place at the same time, with inevitable consequences, never mind roadworks making things worse"

The trouble is, I spend a lot of money in road taxes to ensure I have the luxury to be lazy if I want - (although, I'm not sure my journey from Southbourne to Bournemouth can be classed as 'lazy') So I think I am completely within my right to be a little peeved it took me 45 minutes to get home last night. Could have built a sodding submarine in that time.

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Dibbles2 says...
10:21am Wed 20 Feb 13

Seriously? I was stuck at Cemetry Junction on Monday coming from the police station and I was at a complete stand still for well over an hour. In that period 47 buses zipped up the bus lane preventing anyone from going left as they all wanted to go straight on or right which they couldnt due to other road works. this in turn caused a blockage of buses too and created havoc because the queue then extended far beyond the end of the bus route. When I did manage to get through and only because I was so **** fed up of waiting and because buses were not letting any cars through at all ( I understand we have to give them right of way) but they were just adding to the problem by not letting cars go down a route that was clear because they were straddled across the centre of the road!

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mikey2gorgeous says...
10:40am Wed 20 Feb 13

Dibbles2 wrote:
Seriously? I was stuck at Cemetry Junction on Monday coming from the police station and I was at a complete stand still for well over an hour. In that period 47 buses zipped up the bus lane preventing anyone from going left as they all wanted to go straight on or right which they couldnt due to other road works. this in turn caused a blockage of buses too and created havoc because the queue then extended far beyond the end of the bus route. When I did manage to get through and only because I was so **** fed up of waiting and because buses were not letting any cars through at all ( I understand we have to give them right of way) but they were just adding to the problem by not letting cars go down a route that was clear because they were straddled across the centre of the road!
Why don't you take the bus instead then?

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_mooch_ says...
10:51am Wed 20 Feb 13

surely nobody is surprised , its approaching April and has been happening this time of year for as long as i can remember

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BourneRed says...
11:21am Wed 20 Feb 13

So everyone wants an improved road system, but no one wants to be inconvenienced by it happening is that the general summary?

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speedy231278 says...
11:35am Wed 20 Feb 13

"The trouble is, I spend a lot of money in road taxes to ensure I have the luxury to be lazy if I want"

No you don't. There's no such thing any more. You pay Vehicle Excise Duty which is just a tax on having a car. Gone are the days of the Road Fund Licence, and sadly, the consequences of that speak for themselves!

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speedy231278 says...
11:37am Wed 20 Feb 13

BourneRed wrote:
So everyone wants an improved road system, but no one wants to be inconvenienced by it happening is that the general summary?
Yup. The same people who moan about potholes are now moaning about the roads being fixed and traffic being snarled up. Great, innit? lol

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speedy231278 says...
11:40am Wed 20 Feb 13

Incidentally, for those unfortunate enough to live in Boscombe/Southbourne
, you'll find the train takes four minutes from Pokesdoewn to Bournemouth, and costs £2.80, which I think is comparable to the bus fare, and is a massive saving in time in any case!

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BourneRed says...
11:46am Wed 20 Feb 13

speedy231278 wrote:
BourneRed wrote:
So everyone wants an improved road system, but no one wants to be inconvenienced by it happening is that the general summary?
Yup. The same people who moan about potholes are now moaning about the roads being fixed and traffic being snarled up. Great, innit? lol
Just thought I'd check, I know how everyone likes to remain consistent in their views on here....

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loftusrod says...
11:59am Wed 20 Feb 13

Simply cycle past the waiting traffic.

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psatlast says...
12:45pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Why is there all this moaning when delays are caused by roadworks or accidents but nobody complains about the holdups caused by schools traffic???

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afcb-mark says...
12:57pm Wed 20 Feb 13

After the earthquake in Japan they rebuilt a whole main road including a flyover in a week, perhaps Bournemouth council should pop over there to see how it is done. The traffic jam at 5pm towards Charminster stretched back to the university near Wallisdown, what a joke.

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Baywolf says...
1:42pm Wed 20 Feb 13

And this is how the money just aquired for transport improvement, so it's acknowledged that Bournemouth is hemmed in by three sides why then not utilise that money in joining Poole Bournemouth and Christchurch with a ring road that links with the M27 and the Link road to Weymouth..oh but wait even if it did you will get stuck in Poole due to the lifting bridges. Madness

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bobsworthforever says...
4:35pm Wed 20 Feb 13

afcb-mark wrote:
After the earthquake in Japan they rebuilt a whole main road including a flyover in a week, perhaps Bournemouth council should pop over there to see how it is done. The traffic jam at 5pm towards Charminster stretched back to the university near Wallisdown, what a joke.
dont suggest that they will all be off on a week long jolly at our expense

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guisselle says...
5:27pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Too true!

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b26b says...
5:57pm Wed 20 Feb 13

mikey2gorgeous wrote:
Dibbles2 wrote:
Seriously? I was stuck at Cemetry Junction on Monday coming from the police station and I was at a complete stand still for well over an hour. In that period 47 buses zipped up the bus lane preventing anyone from going left as they all wanted to go straight on or right which they couldnt due to other road works. this in turn caused a blockage of buses too and created havoc because the queue then extended far beyond the end of the bus route. When I did manage to get through and only because I was so **** fed up of waiting and because buses were not letting any cars through at all ( I understand we have to give them right of way) but they were just adding to the problem by not letting cars go down a route that was clear because they were straddled across the centre of the road!
Why don't you take the bus instead then?
Buses are for Tramps.

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FNS-man says...
6:14pm Wed 20 Feb 13

afcbalex wrote:
"The trouble is that people are lazy, and most want to drive short distances rather than walk. It doesn't help when all the bus routes overlap for a good portion of the journey, and the stops are ridiculously close together on the main drags, leading to severe congestion even on relatively quiet days. Quite simply, there are too many vehicles trying to get to the same place at the same time, with inevitable consequences, never mind roadworks making things worse" The trouble is, I spend a lot of money in road taxes to ensure I have the luxury to be lazy if I want - (although, I'm not sure my journey from Southbourne to Bournemouth can be classed as 'lazy') So I think I am completely within my right to be a little peeved it took me 45 minutes to get home last night. Could have built a sodding submarine in that time.
a) VED is a pittance

b) Southbourne to Bournemouth = lazy unless you're disabled in some way

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mj34 says...
8:40pm Wed 20 Feb 13

the rd works at bath hill for 2 weeks are because ther putting an island in the middle of the rd, this does Should not warrent these traffic delays, the reason hold up in charminster because they have 3 way lights for people t come out of a rd they come out of all year round, THESE RD WORKS R A JOKE !!! , ok for you lot in your office at the council , SORT IT OUT ,ITS BANG OUT OF ORDER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!111

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mj34 says...
8:41pm Wed 20 Feb 13

and its not the buses that are the problem, its CARS !!!

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Benniestewart says...
9:35pm Wed 20 Feb 13

when are they going to build a new
link into and out of Wallisdown
The gridlock that exists in this area will never be resolved until this is done
cant keep expanding the university
without this work

Report this post »

Dibbles2 says...
9:36pm Wed 20 Feb 13

The empty bus lane caused the problem because people couldnt go left despite there being a clear route and then the lane did clear to go straight on still nobody could move due to buses then trying to turn right and congesting both lanes. In answer to someones question I drive because I have children to pick up from school and before you go on about it being half term I know that! But they dont look after themselves. I leave my house at 7.45 am every day and I get home at 6pm every night and excuse me if I want to spend that time with my family rather than being stuck in traffic which also costs me child minding fees. when there must be a solution.As it is I see my 9 year old son for 2 hours a day. Some of you idiots out their think life is simple but for some people we have no choice in our lifestyle. There are few jobs out there and I happened to have a very good one at the moment but I guess for the **** who comment on here thats just not good enough.Jeremy Clarkson was right about Bournemouth.

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Mrspud28 says...
9:58pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Dibbles2 wrote:
The empty bus lane caused the problem because people couldnt go left despite there being a clear route and then the lane did clear to go straight on still nobody could move due to buses then trying to turn right and congesting both lanes. In answer to someones question I drive because I have children to pick up from school and before you go on about it being half term I know that! But they dont look after themselves. I leave my house at 7.45 am every day and I get home at 6pm every night and excuse me if I want to spend that time with my family rather than being stuck in traffic which also costs me child minding fees. when there must be a solution.As it is I see my 9 year old son for 2 hours a day. Some of you idiots out their think life is simple but for some people we have no choice in our lifestyle. There are few jobs out there and I happened to have a very good one at the moment but I guess for the **** who comment on here thats just not good enough.Jeremy Clarkson was right about Bournemouth.
The road works need to be done at some point. I'd rather put up with some occasional delays than damage my car on bad quality roads

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Bournefre says...
10:08pm Wed 20 Feb 13

So far this week my journey to work has been quicker than taking the same route last week, despite the roadworks.
I am far from 'furious'.

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gileto says...
10:38pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Dibbles2 wrote:
The empty bus lane caused the problem because people couldnt go left despite there being a clear route and then the lane did clear to go straight on still nobody could move due to buses then trying to turn right and congesting both lanes. In answer to someones question I drive because I have children to pick up from school and before you go on about it being half term I know that! But they dont look after themselves. I leave my house at 7.45 am every day and I get home at 6pm every night and excuse me if I want to spend that time with my family rather than being stuck in traffic which also costs me child minding fees. when there must be a solution.As it is I see my 9 year old son for 2 hours a day. Some of you idiots out their think life is simple but for some people we have no choice in our lifestyle. There are few jobs out there and I happened to have a very good one at the moment but I guess for the **** who comment on here thats just not good enough.Jeremy Clarkson was right about Bournemouth.
'Jeremy Clarkson right about Bournemouth?' That'll be a first then.

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gileto says...
10:41pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Benniestewart wrote:
when are they going to build a new
link into and out of Wallisdown
The gridlock that exists in this area will never be resolved until this is done
cant keep expanding the university
without this work
Do we really HAVE to keep expanding the University?? Not compulsory, surely.

Report this post »

uvox44 says...
8:57am Thu 21 Feb 13

now the logical conclusion of the consumerist system that tells you that to be happy you need to buy more, get a bigger house, go on more holidays, etc is that everyone borrows more and gets stuck in jobs that they don't like , have less time just to relax and get stressed out rushing around (especially when stuck in roadworks) - this area is by and large fairly well-off, it has some lovely beaches/ countryside around and yet all i see are miserable, impatient people- anyone think maybe the advertisers and corporations are selling you a dream that's actually a nightmare? Maybe time to wake up and become human again?

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elite50 says...
9:45am Thu 21 Feb 13

All of this could be avoided if the council put on a large night shift in summer to fix the potholes etc.
10% of the traffic 100% goodwill.

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