Dorchester Road traffic plan moves ahead (From Dorset Echo)

Dorchester Road traffic plan moves ahead

10:00am Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Martin Lea

‘IMPROVED ACCESS’: A new cycle path on Dorchester Road

A TRAFFIC improvement project in Weymouth is progressing, with a new phase of works to begin this week.

But some of the works planned for Dorchester Road have been shelved after local objections.

Dorset County Council says enhancements to the southern end of the road will soon be finished. From today, work will start near Wey Valley School to provide cycling facilities and upgrade the existing crossing.

DCC cabinet member for highways Peter Finney said: “With less traffic using Dorchester Road we have been able to enhance the route for walkers and cyclists. The new cycle lanes join up with the Weymouth Relief Road cycleway and will improve access to Redlands sports centre and the Wey Valley school campus.”

The latest phase will take around four weeks, after which the cycle lanes between Broadlands Road and Manor Roundabout will be marked out. Work will then move to the Stottingway Street area to narrow the entrance to the road, to make it easier for pedestrians to cross. A new pedestrian island will also be built on Dorchester Road to the north of the junction.

In May, the pelican crossing by Broadwey Stores will be removed and replaced with a pavement build-out.

Plans in the Broadwey area have been scaled back after Weymouth and Portland councillors recently voted against installing flat top tables, a type of traffic calming measure, near Broadwey Stores.

Councillors also rejected the proposal to remove a section of the double yellow lines on Dorchester Road north of the Littlemoor Road Junction.

Work completed on Dorchester Road includes footpath widening at Upwey, road widening at Redlands and in the Radipole Lane area to accommodate cycle lanes, a mini-roundabout at Littlemoor Road junction and a pedestrian island north of Manor Roundabout.