Hours of delays, frustrating queues, no viable alternative routes and another eight months to go.
Drivers forced to endure the chaos the A338 is creating have hit out at the council for the length of delays - and their 'lack of sympathy'.
Some say they have given up gym memberships or avoided booking classes as a result, with one person claiming to have quit their job over the work.
One man, commenting online said: “I feel for the poor business folk of Bournemouth and Castlepoint.
“I needed shops Saturday afternoon. I live in Verwood and went to Southampton instead as it was quicker and less hassle to get there. I know my amount of money wouldn’t make much difference but how many other people have had the same idea as me?”
Work force of 4 guys and one digger. Would be less angry if there were signs of any actual work being done. Currently detours to avoid sitting for an extra hr is costing me £25 extra in fuel and now considering cancelling BH Live membership as can't get to the littledown.
— Omnipitone (@omnipitone) October 10, 2018
Must be 1000,s of hours either of work or leisure time wasted each week. Must be at least 30,000 journeys per week all losing an hour. That's a MILLION LOST HOURS!!
— Omnipitone (@omnipitone) October 10, 2018
Its added 1.5hrs to my daily commute...that’s 1.5hrs on top of my 12hr workday. When am I supposed to eat/sleep and live escapes me. These roadworks are reaking havoc with my personal life and mental health
— Vaelkyrie (@Vaelkyrie_) October 10, 2018
And one driver said: “Christchurch to Ferndown; I would normally leave at 8.10am to get into work for 8.45am. I’m now leaving at 7.40am and leave work at 5.15pm and get home 6.15-6.30pm when normally this would take 25 minutes.”
One man said: “At the moment I’m not going anywhere in Bournemouth, Poole etc unless I take the motorbike. Business must be affected.”
What a massive waste of time and money! I still dont understand why its being done!? Tripled morning commute to work. Shambles of a council, why wasn't this done when they dug the whole bloody road up two years ago?? Throop to Chapel Gate via Northbourne to Boscombe takes 90mins!
— Kieran Davies (@afcb_brfc) October 10, 2018
It has put another 2 hours into my day. It's hell to get anywhere. I have no choice but to drive and getting from Ferndown through to anywhere else adds far too much time and stress onto my days. I can't bear to think that this is continuing until next year!
— claire maggio ⓥ (@MaggioClaire) October 10, 2018
One woman said her husband, who works near Fareham, has to leave at least an hour earlier each day. And she said it often takes him two hours to do what should be a 40 minute journey.
“He didn’t see his kids at all yesterday and is even considering changing jobs for less money as he can’t face nine months of this after only recently enduring the same with the last set of works,” she said.
“The council have no idea the impact on families and lives, it’s profound.”
Bournemouth council don’t care. As long as their town centre is kept clear they don’t bother about commuters. We need to widen the tweets to include other councils and MPs to put pressure on meaningful consultation and options.
— Moira J Brown (@MoiraJBrown1) October 10, 2018
It's just ridiculous that 3 to 5 operatives are working on this multi million pound project!!..put at least 20 operatives in to remove the central barrier and 3 to 4 teams of equipment and get a move on!!! 9 months could then be 3 months!!
— John Heron (@jpbh7) October 10, 2018
Another driver said: “These roadworks have made my working life impossible. I drop my son at school at 8.30am and would normally be in work for 9am. Now I am late everyday by at least 45 mins. I work my lunch to try and make up the hours. I cant leave earlier as I can’t afford to add breakfast club to my already spiralling childcare costs.”
Hi Richard, Unfortunately the A338 roadworks in Bournemouth are causing severe delays to our services. Please be assured we are constantly monitoring the service, and doing all we can to ensure the service runs on time. Please accept my apologies. ^OM
— Morebus (@Morebusco) October 9, 2018
Well thanks to the fiasco of the #a338 I handed in my notice today, @bournemouthbc @DorsetCC this is directly down to your farce of a plan. I will not commute for 3+ hours a day for 9 months my quality of life is more important. Sure I won't be the last to quit. @Bournemouthecho
— Danielle Morris (@DaniMorris) October 3, 2018
It's cost busy people hours out of there lives and businesses 1000s per day across bmth in working hours and revenue. Badly thought out. Surely better to invest in more man hours, overnights and weekends in a more tactical way. Bmth doesn't have infrastructure to coup.
— Rich (@RichTuthill) October 10, 2018
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