Public to get say on traffic survey results

From the Echo, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.

AROUND 2,300 vehicles use Dorchester's Top o' Town junction during each daily rush-hour.

A new report says that up to 38 vehicles a minute cross the county town's clogged main crossing point between 8am and 9am and 5pm and 6pm each weekday.

The figure is revealed in a major traffic survey published by Dorset County Council in conjunction with West Dorset District and Dorchester Town councils, into how many vehicles travel in and through the town.

Council roads chiefs hope the snapshot will help ease Dorchester's traffic nightmare and they are now due to hold a series of open days later this month to hear potential solutions from the public based on the survey findings.

Tim Westwood, county transportation manager, says in the report: "Dorchester residents do not need a survey to know that the town has too much traffic. Doing nothing is not an option.

"Many of us think we see a simple solution to the problem, but a change to the roads network in one area could have a knock-on effect somewhere else which could just add to problems."

The survey, carried out through interviews and traffic counts last year, says tailbacks and long delays are the norm in Dorchester with the vast majority of drivers in the town commuting to and from work.

Just a fraction of traffic using three of the town's busiest roads, High West Street, Wareham Road and Weymouth Road, are onward journeys.

Of the 685 vehicles travelling westbound along High West Street between 8am and 9am, just 85 of those are likely to leave the town centre without stopping.

Things are no better for motorists using the Dorchester bypass, with anything up to 1,600 vehicles an hour travelling on it.

Road bosses warn things are only likely to get worse with traffic volume in Dorchester forecast to rise by as much as 45 per cent by 2017.

People can give their views on traffic matters in the town at two open days in the Magistrates' Room at the Dorchester Municipal Buildings in High East Street on October 29 and 30.

John Peake, chairman of Dorset County Council, said: "This is the start of an opportunity for the people of Dorchester to be involved in the development of the town."

Motorists in the town face a roads revamp when new one-way systems are tested for three months while gas mains in High East Street are repaired by Transco in January 2005.

The council plans to use the results of the one-way experiment in its long-term traffic scheme.

Archive Home