Leigh Road to Wimborne Road West
Work to build new sustainable transport infrastructure on Wimborne Road West and Leigh Road (between the Candford Bottom roundabout and the junction with Brook Road), has now been completed and the 2.3km stretch of new walking and cycle paths and crossings are open and ready for use.
It was the first project to be completed as part of Dorset and BCP councils’ Transforming Cities Fund’ programme.
The improvements include:
- New, continuous 2.3km footpaths and cycle lanes from the Canford Bottom roundabout to the junction with Brook Road. Some sections have one-way cycle lanes either side of the road, and other sections have a two-way cycle lane on one side of the road
- Three new crossings, two of which are parallel crossings that allow both pedestrians and cyclists to cross at the same time
- Significant improvements made to the bus stops along the road with raised curbs to help with access to buses
- A reduction in the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph to make the road safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians
- Junction improvements along Leigh Road giving priority to people walking and cycling around the area
- The resurfacing of the entire road from Canford Bottom Roundabout to the Brook Road Junction with all potholes filled and repaired
- Wildflower seeding and planting including new trees
More information about this completed work can be found here.
The whole Leigh Road - Wimborne Road West scheme has been largely funded through central government’s south east Dorset Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), but has also been supplemented by a £500,000 grant from the Department for Transport through walking and cycling charity Sustrans’ Paths for Everyone programme and further money from the councils and local transport and business organisations.
Work still to be done
A short section of the route remains incomplete around the junction with Lonsdale Road. This section will be built by Barratt Homes as part of their agreement to develop the new Quarter Jack Park Estate.
This work will include completion of the remaining cycle and walking paths on the north of Leigh Road, the re-modelling of the Lonsdale Road junction and the installation of traffic lights and controlled crossings on the arms of the junction.
Dorset Council will construct the missing section of shared footway to the west of the junction, on the south of Leigh Road.
The work has begun and is expected to be completed by March 2024.
Visit Dorset Council's Leigh Road project information page for further information about the programme of improvements along Leigh Road and Wimborne Road West.
