Poole: Safety improvement work delayed for second time

The efforts to improve safety at a busy intersection close to a country park, where several accidents have occurred, have been delayed for the second time.

The proposed upgrades near Upton Country Park, located off the A35 near Poole, will feature wider walkways, a new crossing for pedestrians that runs alongside the road, and a lowered speed limit.

In September, the project was postponed just days before it was supposed to kick off and has now been pushed back to January 2025.

Dorset Council announced that there has been another delay after discovering a problem with the new street lights.

The council expressed gratitude to everyone for their understanding and patience regarding the project.

"We are collaborating with Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole Council, and SSE to address the problem so we can begin our enhancement projects as soon as it's safe. We will share an updated start date as soon as possible," it stated.

The upgrades were originally postponed in September because of work being done by Southern Gas Network on the adjacent Blandford Road North, which took longer than expected to finish.

Dorset Council released a statement at the time saying, "We recognize that this setback will be frustrating for a lot of people, including our construction team."

It stated that it is dedicated to improving this area while keeping disturbances to a minimum.

According to the authorities, the suggested modifications aim to create more secure environments for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers on the road.

According to the proposals, Upton Country Park will continue to be accessible while the roadwork is taking place.

To reduce traffic jams, the council announced that they will set up temporary traffic lights and implement short-term restrictions along with marked detours.

As the project was nearing completion, three nights were set aside for road closures to allow for resurfacing work.