7:40am Wednesday 25th November 2009
By Paula Roberts
MORNING rush hour on the A338 Spur Road went a little more smoothly yesterday but motorists say it was hell elsewhere.
The switch of the road works on to the northbound carriageway on Monday saw traffic delays on both lanes and had a knock-on effect around the conurbation.
Project leader David Diaz said the trouble on the southbound carriageway was unexpected and he would monitor the situation over the coming days.
Yesterday the southbound carriageway was relatively clear moving and the queues on the northbound lanes by the Cooper Dean roundabout were shorter.
But motorists said there were still traffic delays on the outskirts of town, particularly Castle Lane West, Ensbury Park and Boscombe.
There was heavy congestion on Castle Lane West during yesterday’s rush hour.
Dr Brian Moreland said he was livid after arriving 40 minutes late for seeing patients at the Crescent Surgery in Boscombe.
“They have started the work on the Spur Road, they have closed off Ashley Road and now they have put temporary traffic lights on Christchurch Road by the Crescent. It was pandemonium,” he said.
“I am a doctor and was made 40 minutes late for surgery. If this is happening now because of lizards what is it going to be like from September next year? Joking apart I said to my wife I might have to live at the surgery weekdays next year so I can get to work on time.
“I do think it is appalling what is going on at the moment. There has been no planning at all.”
Yesterday evening saw congestion again after a four-car collision near the Cooper Dean roundabout. Some staff at Bournemouth Hospital reported 45-minute delays leaving the site.
Mr Diaz put much of Monday’s chaos down to the weather. He said: “We want to get the message out that between the peak times the road is free flowing and people should not be discouraged from coming to Bournemouth to do their shopping.”
He said cones were placed between the Cooper Dean roundabout and the Blackwater Bridge junction to enable officers to take samples of the road material but these will be removed as soon as traffic levels allow.
The work is being carried out to prepare for a £26 million refurbishment of the road due to begin next autumn.
Andy Ackerman, head of highways at Dorset County Council, said: “While significant delays have been experienced during rush hours, traffic has been moving well in between and we would encourage shoppers not to avoid travelling to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole at these times.”
Have you been caught up in jams? Tell us where...
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk