Work is starting next week (26 March) on the first phase of improvements to Dorchester Road after residents backed the amended proposals.
Phase One includes constructing pedestrian islands, landscaping and traffic calming at Upwey/Elwell Street and Manor Roundabout.
Original plans were amended following an earlier consultation last year. Residents gave the new proposals their approval in February; some of their suggestions for minor changes have been incorporated.
Detailed plans of the scheme proposals are now available to view online.
We have provided a preferred option for the length of Dorchester Road, and alternate option for most of the areas along Dorchester Road.
We welcome your comments on the proposals. Please complete the comments sheet and return to Dorset Highways by Wednesday 29th February 2012.
If you have any comments or questions please contact Dorset Highways:
Phone: 01305 224394
Email: weymouthreliefroad@dorsetcc.gov.uk
The environmental improvement plans for Dorchester Road have been revised following consultation with local residents at the end of 2010.
On-street parking, pedestrian facilities, a cycleway and a review of current road markings have been looked at as part of the revised scheme.
Further public exhibitions are being held to hear what residents think of the new proposals.
From Tuesday 25 October there will be temporary traffic lights on Dorchester Road just to the south of Manor Roundabout.
The lights will be in place for around five days, although we hope to complete the works sooner.
Where possible, the traffic lights will be removed at the end of each shift.
There will be a signed advisory diversion route along Mercery Road during the works.
Work is being carried out to realign the kerbs from the side road to improve the turning movement for vehicles exiting the cul-de-sac and to complete the pedestrian island.
After completion of the minor works to Bincombe junction, we have now had further discussions with the bus companies.
First Group have confirmed that from Monday 12 September their services will use Bincombe junction and they will monitor it over the coming months.
For operational reasons, South West Coaches will not be using Bincombe junction.
Wilts and Dorset have not yet come to a decision on whether Service 183 will use Bincombe junction.
The Dorchester Road shuttle service will finish on Saturday 10 September after the last timetabled service (7pm).
The Dorchester Road shuttle service will now finish on Saturday 10 September after the last timetabled service (7pm).
Work at Bincombe junction is progressing well and we hope that it will be complete at the end of this week.
Discussions with bus companies will take place once the works are complete.
We will provide an update on the bus services once further details are available.
Following concerns from the bus companies, Dorset County Council has met with them to look at improvements that can be carried out at the Bincombe junction. As a result of these meetings we have agreed to carry out some minor alterations to the junction.
The agreed changes will be carried out over the next two weeks. We will then meet with the companies again to see if they are satisfied with the junction.
While these works and further discussions are taking place the Dorchester Road shuttle service will continue to operate.
The junction has been designed in accordance with national highway standards and has been independently safety audited to ensure that it is safe to use by all motorists.
We have received a few comments asking why we have not provided an acceleration lane at this junction. An acceleration lane has not been provided at the junction as it would not meet with national highway design standards. This is because there is a risk of merging vehicles forcing other vehicles into the path of oncoming traffic. The existing give-way layout means that a vehicle has to wait for a safe gap to pull out.
You may be aware that local bus companies have raised some concerns about the new Bincombe junction. We are talking with the bus companies and are investigating these concerns.
While discussions are taking place we have extended the existing free shuttle service from Upwey to Littlemoor for a further week while the situation is resolved.
The shuttle service will now finish on Saturday 13 August after the last timetabled service (7pm).
An independent safety audit has already been carried out on the junction, and we are confident it is safe to use by all motorists.
Another milestone in the Weymouth Relief Road project will be reached on Friday (5 August), with the opening of the new Bincombe junction and completion of cycleway routes.
Vehicles from Upwey, Broadwey and Bincombe will be able to join northbound traffic to Dorchester, and southbound traffic can leave the relief road to join Dorchester Road and Bincombe Lane. (more…)
Once the main carriageway of the relief road is open, work will start to complete the Bincombe junction.
This means that the northern section of Dorchester Road will be a dead end, with no through access onto the new road or up to Dorchester until later this year.
As this closure will affect the local bus services, a free shuttle service will be provided from Upwey to link up with the bus services from Littlemoor.
The details of this service are currently being finalised and more information will be released once it is confirmed how the service will run.
