THE Ashley Heath roundabout will be partially closed and some traffic diverted to Ringwood and back for up to three months as the next part of the A338 rebuild project gets underway.
As of 8pm on Monday, January 4, the eastern section of the roundabout used by Bournemouth-bound traffic coming from the north and west will be shut while the top sections of both carriageways - where the junctions are - are rebuilt.
Highways bosses say this is the only option to keep traffic flowing safely until the start of phase four at the end of March.
We explain what's happening during phase two and three and how you may be affected.
What's happening?
Phase two of work on the A338 will focus on the top part of the southbound carriageway – where it joins with the A31 at the Ashley Heath Roundabout.
Phase three will see the top part of the northbound carriageway closed. Traffic will move between the two carriageways via a contraflow at Qinetiq, meaning both inbound and outbound traffic will have to use the same junction.
In order to make sure this happens safely and to keep traffic moving freely, all southbound traffic will need be filtered into a single lane on the slip road, before it reaches the roundabout.
When's it happening?
The eastern section of the roundabout will be closed from 8pm on Monday, January 4 with cones in place from 6am on Tuesday, January 5.
From 6am on January 5, all traffic using the A338 heading towards Bournemouth will be filtered into a single lane at the bottom half of the slip road coming from Ringwood and enter the contraflow at the top of the northbound carriageway.
Can I still use Ashley Heath roundabout?
All the slip roads onto the roundabout will be open, but both lanes leading from the north side to the A338 will be shut.
On the slip road used by traffic coming from Ringwood, the through-lane onto the A338 (the inside lane) will be closed after the on-slip from Hurn Road.
Traffic from the A31 westbound and from Hurn Road will be guided into one single lane - currently the right-hand lane - to access the roundabout, where drivers can go left into the contraflow, straight on and back onto the A31 or right towards Ashley Heath.
Northbound traffic on the A338 coming from Bournemouth will be able to turn left onto the A31 towards Ferndown, head straight on to Horton Road and Ashley Heath, or turn right to head eastbound on the A31.
Traffic coming from Ferndown will only be able to access Ashley Heath from the roundabout or go straight over to get back on the A31
Traffic coming from Ashley Heath will only be able to turn left onto the A31.
The two lanes of the A31 that run underneath the Ashley Heath roundabout will be open as usual.
So what if I'm coming from Ashley Heath or Ferndown and I want to get on the A338?
You will need to travel to Ringwood on the A31, around Ringwood Roundabout and back up to join the traffic coming along the A31 from the west.
Once through the mili-long contraflow, southbound traffic will cross back to the southbound carriageway, making it two lanes in both directions.
What will the speed limit be?
A temporary speed restriction will be in place on the A31 westbound to reduce the risk of collisions in the Ashley Heath area.
There will be a 50mph limit on the A31 westbound from just before the Ringwood roundabout - at the bottom of Poulner Hill - and the Ashley Heath roundabout.
A 40mph limit will start from the slip road onto the roundabout and continue on the Spur Road.
At the end of phase three the restrictions at Ashley Heath Roundabout, and the temporary speed limits on the A31, will be removed.
Why has the council decided to do this?
Cllr Peter Finney, Dorset County Council Cabinet member for Environment, said: “We know it will cause further inconvenience, especially for St Leonard’s residents, but closing the eastern quadrant of the roundabout will help reduce queuing on to the A31.
“There’ll only be one lane of traffic entering the A338 at Ashley Heath and, with this small section closed, it will have right of way at the roundabout which will keep traffic flowing as best it can. We’re also carrying these works out at a time of year that typically has low volumes of traffic.
“We’ve worked closely with Highway England – which manages the A31 – and this is the best option.”
What's the advice to motorists?
Drivers are being urged to plan their journeys and allow extra time. There are no official alternative routes.
What's the impact on traffic likely to be?
Those coming from Ferndown and the east have the option to come into Bournemouth via West Parley or down Boundary Lane and Matchams Lane, although traffic at the Hurn Post Office junction at is already double what it was before the works started.
However, because the Spur Road traffic will already have filtered into a single lane before the Hurn Road turn off, it's possible drivers will decide to stay on the Spur Road having done most of the queuing by then, which could make it quieter (unless more decide to drive on to the Boundary Lane roundabout.)
Those coming from Ashley Heath who want to go towards Poole can avoid the roundabout by going down Woolsbridge Road and onto the A31 at St Leonards.
Those coming from Ringwood or further west will have little choice. The Hurn Road/Matchams turn will be almost at the end of the "merge in turn" filtering so won't be much quicker than staying on for the A338.
Getting off at Ringwood for the B3347 and Avon Causeway will only exacerbate existing problems with heavy traffic in Ringwood.
Exiting before Ringwood at Picket Post or Hightown Road is possible, but you'd still have to tackle the Avon Causeway or the Christchurch bypass.
What's happening between now and January 4 on the A338?
A week of night closures will take place on the A338 between Monday, December 7 and Friday, December 11, between 8pm and 6am between Ashley Heath and the Cooper Dean Roundabout.
The closures will allow the crossovers at Ashley Heath to be built for phases two and three traffic management, and allow drainage crossings to be installed for the new southbound drainage channels.
The A338 will reopen to three lanes on Saturday December 12 – with two lanes northbound and one lane southbound. A lane one closure will still be in place southbound while the Lafarge Tarmac quarry access is finished.
Four lanes should be back in place on Saturday, December 19.
The 40mph speed limit will remain in force over Christmas for safety reasons because there aren't any road markings on the carriageway at this stage.
What happens after phase two?
Phase three will require the same traffic management, but with all traffic using the southbound carriagewayo to enter and exit.
This phase is scheduled to be completed on March 20, 2016, with full access to the Ashley Heath roundabout and work will start on phase four to rebuild the main northbound stretch from Blackwater to the Qinetiq access – with a contraflow on the southbound carriageway.
We'll be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest news and travel information when the next phase of works begins on the Spur Road. For all our stories on the A338, visit bournemouthecho.co.uk/a338
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