CHANGES made to improve the flow of traffic on a busy route in Weymouth have been a success - according to Dorset Council.

Lengthy tailbacks could be spotted in all directions after roadworks began on Monday, January 16 to refurbish the Dorchester Road/Mercery Road junction in Weymouth.

Such was the length of the delays, just a week after work began, council officials and representatives of Amberon (the traffic management company in charge of the traffic lights) met at the scene and opted to alter the traffic light times in an attempt to reduce waiting times.

Extra signage was added further along the routes to warn drivers of the road works and to advise drivers to use alternative routes.

Dorset Echo: A sign at the bottom of Dorchester Road warned drivers of the upcoming road works A sign at the bottom of Dorchester Road warned drivers of the upcoming road works (Image: Tom Harris) 

Following this, a Dorset Council spokesperson has declared that the changes have had the desired effect: “The traffic management changes we made have improved the flow. 

"We will continue to monitor the situation, and encourage drivers to plan ahead during the works, especially at peak times.”

The junction is on a regularly-used route into the town which is also one of the entrances to the Weymouth Gateway Development site home to shops and businesses.

The refurbishment works will include:

  • Replacement traffic signal heads, poles and controller
  • A new controlled pedestrian crossing across Dorchester Road
  • A new Toucan crossing on Mercery Road
  • A new cycle lane on Mercery Road which will narrow the road (with the left-hand filter lane on Mercery Road removed) as well as the installation of a pedestrian crossing at the traffic lights. 

The council has clarified with the Echo that traffic will not be stopped from turning left - only that the left-hand filter lane will be removed.

They said: "The current filter lane cannot accommodate a dedicated pedestrian crossing, but the level of traffic in and out of Mercery Road means traffic can be managed with a single lane which will enable a crossing."

The roadworks are scheduled to be completed on the week starting Monday, March 13.