The junction on Dorchester Road and Mercery Road has been subject to a revamp by Dorset Council with the works started in mid January. 

The area is home to many retail establishments and also is one of the main entrances to the Weymouth Gateway Business Park. 

Works began on Monday, January 16 to make changes to the junction after equipment on the scene had come to the end of its lifespan. 

The refurbishment works were planned to improve the reliability of the junction and the safety of all its users. 

What has been done?

As a result of the two months' worth of work, traffic light heads were replaced and new crossings were implemented. 

A toucan crossing can now be seen at the top of Mercery Road as well as a controlled pedestrian crossing which goes across Dorchester Road. 

The controlled pedestrian crossing on Dorchester Road (Image: Tom Harris)

The toucan crossing on Mercery Road (Image: Tom Harris)

However, works to implement a new cycle lane on Mercery Road are yet to be completed. 

The road out of the retail park is set to be narrowed to include the cycle lane, however, temporary barriers can still be seen at the scene. 

A statement from Dorset Council explained when the cycle lane will be in operation. A spokesman for the council said: "Temporary barriers have been set up as markers between the road and dedicated cycle lane in preparation for the installation of posts scheduled for this April."

Temporary barriers can be seen on Mercery Road and are set to be around until mid-April (Image: Tom Harris)

Setbacks:

Throughout the works, temporary three-way traffic lights were put in place to control the flow of traffic on what is one of the busier routes in and out of Weymouth. 

However, these caused widespread disruption in the early days of the works and as a result, wait times had to be adjusted at the lights and further signage had to be erected to further warn drivers of the delays. 

Signs like this could be seen in the area warning drivers to find an alternative route (Image: Tom Harris)

To add to the disruption, work took longer than originally planned when it was revealed that there would be delays to the project in its final days.

It had been scheduled that the refurbishment was due to finish on the week commencing Monday, March 1, however, due to equipment needing to be tested the final commissioning and switch-on couldn't take place until Wednesday, March 22. 

What do locals think?

Pete Barrow, Weymouth Town Councillor for the Radipole ward admitted that he had received an overwhelming response from residents in the area throughout the works.

"I am glad it's all over. It has caused a lot of disruption. People have been quite annoyed. 

"The most annoying aspect was there were times when it looked like not a lot was going on. If they could have done things or found ways to shorten things that could have been better.  

"I have had more contacts about this than anything else. 

"There was a rush of complaints at the beginning. Latterly it has been comments such as to 'why is has it been going on so long?' And 'why are people not doing anything?'

"People will be happy it is all over."