CANFORD Bottom’s congested roundabout needs to be re-developed with a dual carriageway.

That was the view of some residents and drivers voicing their relief that controversial plans for a “hamburger” junction at the site have been put on hold.

On Monday it was revealed that transport ministers stalled the Highways Agency’s £5.7 million revamp of Canford Bottom roundabout.

The move followed an appeal from MPs Annette Brooke and Chris Chope.Work was due to start next month on transforming Canford Bottom into a six-arm junction in time for the Olympic events in Weymouth in 2012.

Designs included 70 sets of traffic lights which would be controlled using CCTV.

News of the halt to the scheme provoked a strong reaction from motorists online at bournemouthecho.co.uk.

Mookie44 from Ringwood said: “From that aerial shot you can clearly see that a dual carriageway is needed and a flyover.”

Tullymore from Wareham said: “If all this £5.7million expenditure and months of inconvenience is going to produce is a saving of 14.3 seconds a peak morning time, plus a few minutes on the A31, the sooner this daft scheme is ditched and a flyover is built the better.”

Palantir from Wimborne added: “The photo shows quite clearly that we need to turn both the A31 and Wimborne bypass into dual carriageways with a flyover connecting them. We need lights on the roundabout itself too.

“I work different shifts in the week and no matter which one I’m on, it’s a nightmare getting on and off the roundabout unless it’s late night or early morning.”