COUNCIL chiefs have revealed further details about changes to a controversial road junction in Weymouth – as residents meet to discuss pollution fears.
As reported last week, Dorset County Council is to make changes to the Harbour Crossroads near Asda – but the work is not as extensive as originally thought.
Local councillors who had lobbied the authority had understood a project was being proposed which included moving a traffic island along with other works.
The Echo obtained an email from Dorset Highways last year proposing changes.
It was hoped the changes would make it easier for drivers to negotiate and reduce the time traffic is waiting on Boot Hill.
But Councillor Peter Finney, Cabinet member for Environment at Dorset County Council has now said an ‘overhaul’ of the junction was never on the cards.
A £13,000 scheme is being prepared however in the coming weeks to alter the timing of the junction and put in extra road markings.
DCC says the phasing of the signals will be changed so that there will be a longer pause between North Quay flow finishing and Westwey Road starting – helping northbound traffic disperse on Boot Hill. Also, the southbound flow from Boot Hill will start before the Westwey Road flow starts, allowing the main surge of vehicles to clear and give better gaps for drivers turning.
Additional white-lining will be put around the island in the centre to make the nearside to nearside turning action clearer for drivers.
The council maintains there are no plans to reinstate the roundabout, which was removed in winter 2010/11 as part of the Weymouth Transport Package.
Councillor Peter Finney, Cabinet member for Environment, said: “We promised to look at this junction again when the fire station had moved but an ‘overhaul’ of the junction was not on the cards.
?“We know there are concerns about congestion and some drivers still feel unsure of how to use the traffic island.
“The changes are designed to help.”
Work to put down new markings will start at 8pm on Sunday, March 13 and be finished by 6am the following day.
The new signal sequence will start from 6am on Monday, March 14.
CONTACT ME:
t: 01305 830983
e: martin.lea
@dorsetecho.co.uk
twitter: @DorsetEchoMart
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