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QUESTIONS AFTER THOUSANDS TRAPPED IN SIX-HOUR JAMS
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| VERGING ON THE RIDICULOUS: Huge traffic queues formed for miles around on one of the hottest days of the year. Picture: Richard Crease. Order reference: rad68695 |
DORSET Police have defended the lengthy closure of the A338 Spur Road that produced gridlock on one of the busiest days of the year.
As temperatures topped 30 degrees on Sunday, tens of thousands were left sweltering in queues when a six-mile stretch of the road was closed for six hours following a serious crash.
The closure of one of the main roads in and out of Bournemouth led to complete clogging of alternative routes, with motorists criticising the lack of information on diversions.
Up to 100,000 visitors had crammed into the town to soak up the sun, but many were left with a miserable end to their seaside trip.
A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "This was a serious injury road traffic collision that involved all four lanes of the A338.
"Both northbound and southbound carriageways had to be shut so that a proper and thorough investigation could be conducted at the scene of the collision.
"It was not possible to open the road before a thorough examination of the scene had taken place and there was debris across all four lanes."
The accident happened when a Ford Mondeo collided with a black motorcycle on the northbound carriageway of the A338 just before 2pm on Sunday, with the bike flipping on to the southbound side where it collided with a Honda Civic.
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| ROAD CLOSED: Police investigating the scene of Sunday's motorcycle crash. Picture: Gary Ellson, Bournemouth Helicopters. |
The motorcyclist was airlifted to Poole Hospital, his injuries said not to be life-threatening, and the road was shut between the Ashley Heath roundabout and the Blackwater junction.
It did not reopen until 7.45pm and drivers have complained about a lack of diversions after the incident.
Many motorists, including holidaymakers with little knowledge of the area, were left without any information or signs for alternative routes.
Police say updates were given to the National Traffic Control Centre and Traffic Link, used by radio stations to access travel information.
They also maintain they contacted councils to ask them to broadcast news of the incident on matrix boards above main routes.
Both Bournemouth Borough Council and Hampshire County Council followed police advice in displaying the message.
However, AA Roadwatch says it received no official information from Dorset Police on diversions and that the only suggestions it was given was to use surrounding roads and the A31.
Dorset County Council says its involvement with the incident, including setting up diversions, was kept to a minimum as the police were initially treating the incident as a fatality.
A spokesperson for the AA said it had received a record numbers of calls requesting information for the A338 on Sunday, and that it had been the ninth most requested route in the country that day.
They said: "The closure resulted in significant problems for holidaymakers. The weather conditions no doubt compounded the problems for travellers stuck in traffic on the minor alternative routes."
There were reports of lost motorists distraught because they could not find a way out of the area. Many were forced to wait until much later on Sunday night before escaping the area.
Motorist Paul Vass was returning to Bournemouth from Portsmouth at 6.45pm on Sunday evening.
He said: "Once I hit Ferndown, it took me about an hour to travel the last four or five miles. It usually takes me 15 minutes."
Police said on Monday that the 33-year-old motorcyclist injured in the collision was in a stable condition, but with serious leg injuries.
Anyone who saw the motorcyclist, Ford Mondeo or Honda Civic just before the accident should ring PC Bishop at the Ferndown road policing unit on 01202 222222.
Timeline
1.51pm Collision between motorbike and gold Ford Mondeo on the northbound carriageway, two miles south of Ashley Heath. The impact causes the motorcyclist to cross the carriageway, where he collides with a grey Honda Civic.
3pm Police helicopter arrives with motorcyclist, who has severe leg injuries, at Poole Hospital.
7.46pm Spur Road re-opens.
11:04am Tuesday 18th July 2006
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