A BUS firm manager has cited bad weather and the layout of roads around Bournemouth Railway Station as the reason for “gridlock” on Friday night.

Morebus said due to major congestion at the travel interchange its services were seeing delays of up to two hours.

While there were no roadworks or crashes in the immediate area on September 30, many motorists reported long delays and issues getting out of the Asda multistorey car park.

Bournemouth Echo: Traffic trying to get out of Asda car park. Picture: Andrew SantosTraffic trying to get out of Asda car park. Picture: Andrew Santos (Image: Andrew Santos)

Richard Wade, Morebus general manager, told the Daily Echo: “Unfortunately, we experienced substantial delays to our services in-and-around Bournemouth Station on Friday evening. There wasn’t a single factor behind the issue - but I believe the congestion was mostly due to a combination of bad weather and the physical layout of Bournemouth interchange.

“Essentially, the area in front of the station and Asda both feed out onto the road from the A338 from where a lot of people want to turn left to pass the entrance to the same area.

“When too much traffic hits it all at once, it becomes gridlocked - and similar happens within each level of Asda car park.”

As reported, roadworks in Christchurch town centre on the A35 have overrun, having been due to finish on Friday, September 30.

Mr Wade added: “There was also a road closure, due to an accident, and a planned one-way diversion – both on Barrack Road, Christchurch.

“Local radio stations were advising people to avoid that area. It’s possible that people who were collecting others from trains all went to Bournemouth instead – contributing to the increase in traffic.”