THE FIRST phase a 13km “green travel route” linking Merley with Christchurch is set to start next week – with an aim to complete by December.

Travel improvements between Gravel Hill and Bear Cross Roundabout is set to start along Queen Anne Drive in Wimborne on August 9.

The work, paid for by BCP Council’s Transforming Cities Fund grant, includes major bus, cycling and walking improvements, aimed at enabling people to make healthier journeys where possible.

Improvements to the area along Queen Anne Drive includes:

  • Widening the existing shared use path between Montacute Way and Merley Lane.
  • Junction improvements where Queen Anne Drive meets Rempstone Road, Montacute Way, Lynwood Drive and Merley Lane to enable safer, prioritised crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists.

Most of the work will be carried out away from the carriageway and will not cause disruption to local traffic.

There will be a series of short term (lasting a maximum of one week) temporary traffic lights in operation during the junction improvement work which may cause minor traffic disruption.

This will involve temporary traffic lights being installed where Queen Anne Drive meets Rempstone Road, Montacute Way, Lynwood Drive and Merley Lane. Work will be carried out in phases so only one junction is affected by temporary traffic signals at any one time.

Cllr Mike Greene, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for transport and sustainability said: “I am pleased to see the start of green travel improvements along Queen Anne Drive which marks another key milestone in the rollout of our plans to provide much-needed, climate friendly ways of getting around locally.

“We anticipate minor disruption to traffic during this work phase and thank everyone in advance for their patience while we build a greener, healthier, better-connected region.”