Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Related Pages:

• A31 Canford Bottom Junction Improvement scheme

On this page you will find out more information about the impact this project will have on your journey. This includes details of any roadworks and how we will manage traffic through the project.

Will there be roadworks?

Narrow lanes, road closures and a reduced speed limit are in place to provide a safe working area for our workforce and for the safety of road users.

Along the A31, the implications outside of peak times should be minimal as most of the works on the trunk road have been programmed to take place during night time closures. There will also be no reduction in the number of running lanes available to road users on the A31 during the peak periods to minimise disruptions. However, there may be peak time disruptions due to the speed reductions.

Modifying the existing roundabout carriageway levels to incorporate the new dual carriageway section will require 24 hour closures of the four local roads. These closures started on Thursday 2 February for 7 weeks and will be phased to minimise disruption as much as possible. From Friday 17 February for three weeks, all four local roads will be shut at the same time in order to create a safe working environment for the works contractor and a safe driving environment for motorists.

We continue to work with the local authorities and stakeholders to reduce the impact of these works on both road users and the local community.

How will you manage traffic?

To carry out the junction improvement works, different traffic management options will be used, depending on the phase of the scheme.

The following traffic management is currently in place: 

• A temporary restricted speed limit of 30mph will be in place
• Narrow lane running on all approaches to and exiting the junction, and on the roundabout
• Occasional overnight closures of the A31 trunk road and the local roads (not concurrently)
• Work will take place during day-time and night-time hours,  Monday to Friday (during the 24 hour local road closures, work will take place during day-time hours on Saturdays and Sundays)
• Access into Uddens Drive from the A31 westbound carriageway will not be restricted (this will be reviewed on a regular basis and will only be implemented when necessary)

Upcoming Road Closures

The planned programme of carriageway closures is as follows:- 

• Monday 13 February for 5 nights - The A31 will be closed overnight in both directions between both the Canford Bottom and Merley roundabouts and between Canford Bottom and Ameysford roundabouts to allow for carriageway work and traffic management amendments.
• Monday 20 February for 5 nights - The A31 will be closed overnight in both directions between both the Canford Bottom and Merley roundabouts and between Canford Bottom and Ameysford roundabouts to allow for carriageway work and traffic management amendments.
• Monday 27 February for 5 nights - The A31 will be closed overnight in both directions between both the Canford Bottom and Merley roundabouts and between Canford Bottom and Ameysford roundabouts to allow for carriageway work and traffic management amendments.

All overnight closures will be in place between 8.30pm and 6am (Monday to Thursday nights) and between 11pm and 6am (Friday night).

Please see the Local Road Closures page for information on the phased closures of the four local roads at the Canford Bottom Junction.

• Note: These closure dates are subject to the progress of the Scheme and are therefore provisional. They will be confirmed via the local media and signs at the junction.

Will there be diversions?

During road closures, there will be clearly signed diversion routes in place.

Diversion Route Maps

During the scheme, there will be occasional closures on the A31, and the four local side-roads off the roundabout. During these closures there will be clearly signed diversion routes in place which have been agreed with Dorset County Council and Dorset Police. To view a map of the planned diversion routes, please click on the links below:

A31 Closures Diversion Route Map

Eastside Local Road Closures Diversion Map

Local Road Closures Diversion Route Map

Westside Local Road Closures Diversion Map

Public Transport

During the 7-week phased closures of the four local roads, the bus stops along Wimborne Road West (Ferndown side) between Canford Bottom roundabout and Cobham Road (Ferndown Industrial Estate) will be temporarily closed.

Wilts and Dorset will operate a temporary timetable for route 13 which will include a shuttle bus service for the Stapehill area. 

After the 7 week closures have been completed, Wilts and Dorset will revert back to the existing route and timetable.

For further information about Wilts and Dorset bus service and to view changes to services in the future, please visit www.wdbus.co.uk .