CHANGES are afoot at Weymouth Harbour as Dorset Council prepares to make permanent changes to the road layout - but the details of the new traffic arrangements are yet to be revealed.
Starting on Monday October 4, the council's Highways teams will start work along Custom House Quay as part of a series of changes to enhance the area for hospitality businesses and make the harbour more family-friendly.
The council is also hoping to encourage active travel, with a contra-flow cycle lane proposed along the quay, linking up with the Esplanade and Weymouth railway station.
Question mark over plans for traffic
A decision is yet to be made on traffic arrangements, however - an announcement on this, and the cycle lane, is due next Thursday when the council's Planning committee will vote on a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
Meanwhile, a decision on the future of the railings around Weymouth Harbour will be made by councillors later this year.
The council had previously said that the railings are a temporary solution that will stay in place until after the summer season, after which point feedback from residents and users of the harbour would be sought on future safety arrangements.
The initial phase of roadworks at Custom House Quay will see Highways teams improve drainage and install the final road surface following the removal of the disused railway track.
'Exciting time for Weymouth'
Cllr Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “We always planned to return to Custom House Quay at the start of October, after the busy tourist season, to carry out drainage and final surfacing works for the track removal project.
“We await the decisions on the TROs for the visual layout of the road, to confirm where the harbour side kerbline should run. The decision on the cycle lane does not affect the design on that side of the road.”
He added: “This is an exciting time for Weymouth, with work also due to start at the train station on October 18, subject to planning consent. The many partners that have helped to shape the plans hope that the work will enhance the experience of all station users and will bring benefits to residents, businesses, commuters and visitors.”
Timeline of works
Work along Custom House Quay will be carried out in the same way as during the removal of the disused tracks – with the road closed in sections to provide a safe working area while keeping as much access along the route as possible.
Work will be carried out in the following sections:
* From 4 October to 30 October, road closed between St Mary Street and Maiden Street
* From 1 November to 11 December, road closed between Maiden Street and East Street
* From 3 January to 5 February, road closed between East Street and South Parade
* From 7 February to 5 March, road closed between South Parade and Pilgrims Way
* From 7 March to 9 April, road closed from Pilgrims Way to Esplanade
Work in each area will:
* Remove the existing kerbing (building side) and install drainage pipes, gullies and connections
* Install a new kerbline and remove slabs from the footway
* Lay new slabs
* Install new road edging to mark wider footway on harbour side of the carriageway
Final surfacing of the road will be carried out in March, along with the imprinting works for the carriageway and footway.
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