Bournemouth Spur Road problems prove much reduced (From Bournemouth Echo)

Bournemouth Spur Road problems prove much reduced

7:00pm Wednesday 25th November 2009

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CHANGES to the A338 roadworks appear to have reduced the level of congestion and traffic jams, much to motorists’ relief.

Traffic cones were removed from the Cooper Dean Roundabout and Blackwater Junction late on Tuesday night.

Instead, they were placed north of Blackwater – a move which helped prevent a third day of crippling congestion and lengthy tailbacks.

In particular, the situation on Castle Lane was vastly improved as traffic was able to get onto the Cooper Dean much more quickly. On the previous two days, rush hour traffic had queued back past Castlepoint and along the whole of Castle Lane West.

Peter Matthews, Castlepoint centre manager, said: “By moving the cones north of Blackwater, I think they have made a significant improvement.

“It allows the traffic off at Blackwater and it allows the traffic to get onto the A338 at Cooper Dean.

“I do think the traffic put some people off from coming to Castlepoint. Not on Monday, because people didn’t know about it then, but on Tuesday they had a choice and I think it did affect their decisions.”

Staff at the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital were also badly affected by the work, which involves clearing vegetation from the verges and conducting surveys. In some cases, staff who could not exit the car park ended up going back to work.

A spokesman for the NHS Trust commented: “The trust met with Dorset County Council and the Ambulance Service prior to the roadworks to raise the problems that we felt would be caused by this work.

“We will now be writing to the Highways Department at both Dorset County Council and Bournemouth council to explain the problems that we incurred leaving the site and requesting that action to overcome our problems be considered.”

The trust had previously sought planning permission to create a new entrance to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital but had this rejected.

Dorset County Council head of highways and transportation, Andy Ackerman, said work was progressing well and he was pleased with the improvement in traffic flow.

“Traffic flows on the A338 and adjoining roads were much better on Wednesday with traffic management moving clear of the Cooper Dean Roundabout and Blackwater Junction, with no delays outside of peak times,” he said.

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