A MAJOR three-month Borough of Poole (BOP) project to improve a busy Poole junction has been delayed for a week due to staff sickness

Work at the junction of Waterloo Road with Hatch Pond Road starts on February 8 and is expected to cost £665,000.

It was originally planned to commence a week earlier, but BOP pushed the start date back a week due to a number of their street scene staff being off ill.

A BOP spokesman told the Echo: "Due to a combination of inclement weather delaying the completion of current works and an unusual bout of sickness across our operational, supervisory and managerial staff, we have had to make the decision to delay the start of the Waterloo Road scheme.

"It was felt that it was better to defer the start until we are in a position to man the works effectively and avoid unnecessary disruption to traffic."

The project involves replacing all of the 38 traffic signals at the junction - more than any other junction in Poole - with upgraded models designed to be more responsive to fluctuations in traffic and improve traffic flow throughout the day.

A new Toucan Crossing will be put in across Waterloo Road on the north side of the junction, and all existing pedestrian crossings will be upgraded to Toucan Crossings, which are designed to be used by pedestrians and cyclists at the same time.

The crossings will link the existing shared footway and cycleways which meet at this junction, creating an important connection in the borough’s strategic cycle network.

In addition the junction and sections of Waterloo Road, between Sopers Lane and the Hatch Pond junction, will be resurfaced.

Borough of Poole traffic officers have advised there should be minimal impact on north and south bound traffic using Waterloo Road. But there will be no right turns permitted from Waterloo Road, and traffic that enters and exits Hatch Pond Road and Cabot Lane will also be limited to left turns only. Diversion signs will be in place throughout the works.

John Rice, engineering manager, Borough of Poole, said: “The condition of these signals has deteriorated to such an extent that they will soon be no longer fit for purpose. We are pleased that we are able to carry out significant improvements to this busy junction which will provide additional benefits to all road users.

“We appreciate that the road restrictions will cause some inconvenience and we would like to thank local residents and road users in advance for their patience while these improvements are carried out.”

Councillor Drew Mellor, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation services, Borough of Poole, said: “While these works do not form part of the major improvements that will be carried out from the A31 to the Port of Poole later this year, they do complement the work on this important transport corridor.

“The installation of Toucan Crossings at this junction will mean that once the Gravel Hill improvements have been completed, there will be a direct cycle facility from Merley to Fleestsbridge Roundabout, with the majority off road.”

The works have been coordinated to finish ahead of major improvements taking place at Gravel Hill from July.