Ringwood Road sustainable travel scheme

Sustainable transport link

The proposals along Ringwood Road have been split into three main phases:

• Phase 1 - Longham Mini Roundabouts to Church Road
• Phase 2 - between Penny’s Hill Junction (Victoria Road/New Road) and Trickett’s Cross
• Phase 3 - between Church Road and Penny’s Hill Junction (Victoria Road/New Road)

Phase 1

The first phase of improvements on this section have been completed. This includes a new shared path for pedestrians and cyclists along Ringwood Road and crossing upgrades to make walking and cycling journeys safer and more convenient.

Phase 2 and 3

Following a national review of the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme by the Department for Transport, Phases 2 and 3 of the proposed improvements are on hold until further funding has been secured. 

Rising construction, labour and fuel costs, growing inflation and changes to national design standards for cycling infrastructure mean south east Dorset’s original TCF budget, awarded pre-pandemic in March 2020, is no longer sufficient to build the entire network of cycle, walking and bus improvements planned across the region.  

Priority has been given to TCF schemes that link into existing sustainable travel infrastructure, providing an immediate interim level of connectivity and more continuous travel routes. For further information read the full announcement.

Proposals for phase 2

The proposals put forward as part of the spring 2021 public consultation included: 

• two alternative proposals for the cycling provision between Victoria Road junction and Turbary Road Roundabout
  • Option A: a new one-way protected cycle track on both sides of Ringwood Road, with access to/from properties maintained
  • Option B: a new two-way protected cycle track on the eastern side of Ringwood Road, with access to/from properties maintained
• the existing central hatching, including central islands and right-turn lanes, removed along the length of Ringwood Road to provide space for the cycle track
• two bus stop locations upgraded along the route, which could include accessibility improvements, new shelters and real-time information
• more priority for cyclists and pedestrians at the junctions of Ringwood Road and adjoining roads
• a new toucan crossing near Golf Links Road and a new parallel crossing over Turbary Road
• Golf Links Road junction revised, encouraging slower vehicle speeds and improving safety when crossing
• improvements to Turbary Roundabout, including wider, shared use paths, accessibility improvements, and wider islands to make crossing safer
• new shared use paths on both sides of the road between Turbary Roundabout and Trickett’s Cross Roundabout, with a new controlled crossing point installed

Proposals for phase 3

The proposals put forward as part of the spring 2021 public consultation included: 

• two alternative proposals for the cycling provision between Spinneys Lane and Victoria Road junctions:
  • Option A: a new two-way protected cycle track on the western side of Ringwood Road, with on-street parking removed on that side as a result. Parking would be maintained on the eastern side of the road
  • Option B: a new two-way protected cycle track on the eastern side of Ringwood Road, with on-street parking removed on that side as a result. Parking would be maintained on the western side of the road
• the existing shared use path on the western side of Ringwood Road to be resurfaced
• new crossings at the Ringwood Road/Spinneys Lane junction, with existing crossing points upgraded at the Church Road junction
• four bus stop locations upgraded, which could include accessibility improvements, new shelters and real-time information
• more priority for cyclists and pedestrians at the junctions of Ringwood Road and adjoining road
• two alternative proposals to upgrade the Victoria Road/New Road junction:
  • Option 1: the junction would be upgraded with new crossings installed, connected by new shared use paths
  • Option 2: the left-turn movements from New Road and Victoria Road onto Ringwood Road would be banned to make traffic flow more efficient as well as the junction be upgraded with new crossings and shared use paths

Speed limit 

A review of existing speed limits has been undertaken alongside the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) scheme development. 

The speed limit will be reduced from 40mph to 30mph on the majority of the length of Ringwood Road.

The speed limit between Longham Bridge and Longham Mini Roundabouts will be reduced to 30 mph later in 2023. This is in line with Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council's decision to reduce the speed limit to 30mph further south on Ringwood Road, towards Bear Cross Roundabout.

The speed limit will be reduced to 30mph later in 2023 from approximately 45 metres in a north-eastern direction from Ringwood Road’s junction with Turbary Road to the existing 30mph speed limit situated approximately 15 metres south-west of the junction with Manor Close.

Ringwood Road - Brabourne Avenue proposals

Following a public consultation on the proposals last year, the design was developed further to include conversion of the existing footpath that links Ringwood Road and Brabourne Avenue into a shared path for use by both pedestrians and cyclists. This new link would help to provide a safer route to the schools in the area.  

At the western extent, the cycleway would separate from the footway providing a cycle only link to Brabourne Avenue. The purpose of this is to help address existing issues with people cycling inappropriately close to property accesses. Design work is ongoing for this section, with no confirmed date for delivery.

See this infographic in a different format.