BUSES will start to use a controversial new link to the Weymouth Relief Road after council bosses ordered emergency work.

Bus companies boycotted the northbound Bincombe junction at Upwey when it opened last month due to safety fears, prompting Dorset County Council to make alterations to improve visibility and make it easier for large vehicles to pull out.

First, which operates the number 10 Weymouth–Dorchester service, says it is now happy with those changes and buses will start using it from next Monday.

South West Coaches will not be using it and Wilts & Dorset is still thinking about it.

The move brings a bus service back to Upwey for the first time since March when the top of Dorchester Road was closed so work could start building the junction.

The county council has been providing a shuttle bus from Upwey to Littlemoor for residents wishing to connect with north and southbound services.

A spokesman for First said: “As a company we have now had an opportunity to review Bincombe junction.

“We believe that the changes made by the council, to remove part of the embankment, have greatly improved the line of sight for drivers emerging from the junction, as well as for other traffic approaching it from further down the hill.

“With this in mind we are pleased to announce that we will restore service 10 to the area.”

The spokesman said the firm would continue to monitor the situation closely and reserves the right to change its position. Service 31 to Bridport will continue to avoid Upwey except during the evenings and on Sundays, First says.

Despite the work by the county council at the junction – which included adjusting the inside kerb line to make the road wider – some Upwey residents remain sceptical.

Bob D’Agostino, proprietor of the Riverhouse Inn, said: “I still think it’s dangerous because you have to pull out into accelerating traffic.

“I’m happy to use it in a car but I’d feel nervous on a bus.

“I can’t see a great difference in the new alterations at the junction.

“Nothing will be done until there’s a fatality.”

He added: “You think with all that money they would have got the design right in the first place and included a slip-road.

“It’s done now so we have to live with it.”

Jackie Butcher who works in Broadwey Village Stores said: “Customers still think it’s a hazard.

“People who use it say they take their life in their hands when they pull out.

“The relief road is very welcome but many people are choosing to get on it at Littlemoor rather than use the Bincombe junction.”

'Minor alterations'

A DORSET County Council spokesman said: “After completion of the minor alterations to Bincombe junction, we have now had further discussion with the bus companies.

“First Group has confirmed that from Monday, September 12 its services will use Bincombe junction and it will monitor it over the coming months. Service 10 will use the old Dorchester Road and Bincombe junction. Service 31 will use the old Dorchester Road and Bincombe junction in the evenings.

“For operational reasons, South West Coaches will not be using Bincombe junction. Service 210 will continue to use the Weymouth Relief Road.

“Wilts and Dorset has not yet come to a decision on whether Service 183 will use Bincombe junction.

“The Dorchester Road shuttle service will finish on Saturday September 10 after the last timetabled service.”

'Traffic chaos' fears over closure

DRIVERS are being reminded the main route into Weymouth will be closed at night from next week.

Dorset County Council is shutting off the A354 at the Ridgeway for 10 weeknights from Monday, September 12 to Friday, September 23 so it can repair the well-worn road surface.

The overnight closures are to enable the council to safely carry out maintenance work to the A354 Dorchester Road between the Stadium Roundabout on the outskirts of Dorchester and the top of the Ridgeway.

To enable this work to take place the length of road between the Stadium Roundabout and the Weymouth Relief Road’s Jurassic Roundabout at Littlemoor will be closed off between 7pm and 6am.

Dorset County Council stresses that work is not taking place on the relief road itself – the long-awaited new carriageway opened in March this year.

Weymouth-bound traffic will be diverted at Dorchester along the A352 to Warmwell Cross Roundabout and then down the A353 into Preston, joining the relief road at Littlemoor. Northbound traffic from Weymouth will follow the same route out.

Some motorists fear the closures will cause ‘traffic chaos’. It comes after more than a year of a roadworks blitz for the Weymouth Transport Package plus the relief road work.

The county council says the Ridgeway resurfacing work is essential and has been scheduled at this time after the summer and the relief road works to minimise disruption to road users.

The closures will not affect the weekend of September 17-18.

Residents will be able to cross the A354 at Monkton Park for access to homes via the local side roads. Emergency vehicles will be able to travel through the work site.