Walking, cycling and road improvements in Bournemouth’s Glenferness Avenue area, from Talbot roundabout to Branksome Wood Road, have largely completed, with the next phase of work linking the sustainable travel route into Bournemouth’s Upper Gardens due to start later this month.

The next phase of work, which will link the above travel improvements to those already made at Bournemouth’s Upper Gardens, starts on Monday 21 October at Prince of Wales Road before moving to Queen’s Road, improving the crossing facilities for both pedestrians and cyclists.

The planned improvements include new parallel and zebra crossings, improved street lighting, road junction improvements, road resurfacing and widened shared paths for people walking and cycling.

The following road closures will be in place to facilitate the work:

• Prince of Wales Road, between Branksome Wood Road and Surrey Road: 21 October to 8 November
• Queen’s Road, between Surrey Road and Branksome Wood Road: 11 November to 14 February. There will be two way traffic lights on Branksome Wood Road between Benellen Gardens and Branksome Wood Gardens.
• Leven Avenue, between Branksome Wood Road and Leven Close: 11 November to 14 February.

Signed diversion routes will be in place, taking traffic west along Surrey Road and then onto Branksome Wood Road. Pedestrian and cyclist access will be unaffected.

Councillor Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy at BCP Council, said:

“I’m pleased to see good progress being made on the new sustainable travel route running from Talbot Woods, Winton and Wallisdown into Bournemouth town centre, which will enable safer active journeys by foot or bike and that support bus use through the installation of better facilities.  These improvements are well placed linking into the local schools, universities, employment areas and town centre.

“As a Council, we are committed to providing safe, active travel facilities, not only to reduce traffic congestion and emissions but also to enable healthy, vibrant, and sustainable communities. Thank you to everyone as we carry out these important improvements.”

The latest improvements on Glenferness Avenue, which tie in with the new pedestrian and cycling bridges over the railway, have been funded by central government* and include:

• Two new parallel crossings: one near the southern approach of Talbot roundabout and another between Roslin Road South and Elgin Road
• A new toucan crossing at the junction of Glenferness Avenue and Leven Avenue
• Junction improvements, including side road entry treatments at Roslin Road South (both sides) and Elgin Road, to enhance safe pedestrian and cyclist accessibility across both side roads
• Resurfacing of the carriageway and footways between Talbot roundabout and Alford Road
• Stepped cycle lanes between Talbot roundabout and Alford Road, and between Leven Avenue and Rothesay Road
• Bus stop improvements
• Raised junctions and speed humps have also been introduced around Leven Avenue and Benellen Avenue, including a 20mph speed limit zone.