A NEW cycle and walking route in Merley, part of a green travel initiative, is “making good progress” according to BCP Council.

Around 75 per cent of the improved cycle track and walking route along Queen Anne Drive in Merley has now been constructed.

The works are part of Dorset and BCP Council’s Transforming Cities Fund and will see the construction of a 13km “green travel route” linking Merley with Christchurch.

The Queen Anne Drive works, due to be completed in December 2021, is the first phase of the “green travel route” plans, with three remaining stages due to finish in December 2022.

A council spokesperson said: “The project makes use of recycled materials, excavated from other BCP Council roadworks in the local area.

“To help with the modifications to the road junctions, temporary traffic signals will be in operation at different locations along Queen Anne Drive, between Rempstone Road and Merley Lane, during October.”

According to design plans, works on Queen Anne Drive will see:

  • A widened shared use path between Montacute Way and Merley Lane on the north side of Queen Anne Drive.
  • Junction layouts will be revised where Queen Anne Drive meets Rempstone Road, Montacute Way, Lynwood Drive and Merley Lane.

Phase two, estimated to start in December and run through to March 2022, will see a new shared walking and cycling path installed in Queen Anne Drive between Merley Lane and Canford Magna.

Phase three, to run from April until August 2022, will see a new protected cycle track installed on both sides of Magna Road between Knighton Lane and Wood Lane.

Finally, works for the Bear Cross Roundabout, forming phase four, are currently under design, with work expected to start in September 2022, finishing in December 2022.