WORK will soon begin on the new sustainable travel route between Canford Bottom and Trickett’s Cross.

Dorset Council confirmed the work to build 4.3km cycle, walking and bus infrastructure improvements would take place in three phases, starting in March.

It will form part of the 27km green travel route linking Wimborne and Ferndown with Poole town centre, which includes the new cycle and walking paths and bus improvement work currently underway along Leigh Road, Wimborne Road West and Ringwood Road.

The work is being undertaken by Dorset Council and is part of the £100m+ south east Dorset transforming cities fund (TCF) programme

The first phase of work is along the 1.5km section of Wimborne Road between Cobham Road and Canford Bottom Roundabout.

Due to start construction early March 2022 and complete in autumn 2022, the work includes converting the existing footway on the north side of Wimborne Road West between Canford Bottom Roundabout and Cobham Road to a new 3.5m-wide shared use facility for both walking and cycling.

Bus stops along the route will also be upgraded and the right-turn lane for traffic into Stapehill Abbey will be removed.

New crossings will be installed, with a segregated cycle and pedestrian crossing over Cobham Road and a pedestrian crossing over Wimborne Road providing access to the westbound bus stop.

Phase two covers the section of Wimborne Road between Trickett’s Cross Roundabout and West Moors Road. Work is due to start on late March 2022 with completion anticipated for autumn 2022.

A new toucan crossing on Wimborne Road East near Trickett’s Cross Roundabout will be built and developers will convert the existing footway on the north side of Wimborne Road East to a new shared path between Trickett’s Cross Roundabout and West Moors Road.

Some road closures and diversions will be required; affected businesses and residents will be informed about these around two weeks beforehand.

The final third phase of work on Wimborne Road between Cobham Road and West Moors Road is anticipated to start following completion of phase one in autumn 2022. Design work is ongoing for this phase and further information will be provided at a later date.

Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment said: “We are proud to be investing in safe, sustainable ways of getting around locally without having to rely on the car all the time.

“We have been particularly keen to take the views of local residents and businesses into consideration when developing these plans. We hope that once completed, these improvements will significantly benefit the Ferndown area and provide much needed upgrades to the local transport infrastructure.”