Canford Bottom improvements? My journey now takes three times as long (From Thisisdorset)

Rubbish, absolute rubbish. It's much better! Was it worth the money? ...debatable, but it certainly is much quicker now.

Much quicker along the A31 now. I used to avoid often if traveling through there and go via Wimborne instead, but now along the A31 the traffic sails through easier and for the big lorries they don't have to pull out into small gaps causing more trouble.

Yes, it was know that the traffic from the smaller side routes could be delayed longer, but if you follow & obey the lights it is actually safer as it is more controlled. The only time it is not, is when people CANT follow what the lights are telling them to do or leave the cars across junctions.

Lord gungedin of Ferndown wrote:
Rubbish, absolute rubbish. It's much better! Was it worth the money? ...debatable, but it certainly is much quicker now.

Couldn't agree more. Now that most locals have got used to it (or just avoid it) the progression around it is so much better.
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If there is a problem it's that it’s too small. The space in front of each set of lights (around the outside) is so small that there’s only room for a couple of vehicles... and that's what catches people out. They end up blocking movement of drivers who need to change lanes/leave the roundabout etc…. make it bigger, that’s what I say!! :-)
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Oh, and has anyone else noticed that more vehicles appear to be staying on the A31 down to the industrial estate roundabout, where they turn right…instead of going around the hamburger? :-)

What a waste of money - absolute hogwash it was for the Olympics!
We used to enjoy a trip to Stewarts to see the animals with the children and a leisurely coffee/lunch in the cafe.
Now we never venture past Haskins - partly because of the rising cost of fuel and more so this horrendous junction.
Well done - another winner!

Lord gungedin of Ferndown wrote:
Rubbish, absolute rubbish. It's much better! Was it worth the money? ...debatable, but it certainly is much quicker now.

Say what you will...you live in Ferndown I take it! Living Wimborne side is a nightmare. To go anywhere, you need to cross it!
The problem is, people don't know how to drive it, even many locals. There needs to be better signage before the roundabout showing which lane for where, cos when cars are queued, having it painted on the road is useless. The amount of times I had near misses from cars.... I go off at colehill, but have to swing out like I'm going to wimborne, but in the inside lane, not outside lane...well.. the amount that come up the outside, to then go to colehill...I had a very near miss thanks to someone doing that to me, and I even sat with my hand on the horn, and the women just sat blankly staring at me, not noting she was 2inchs from my left bonnet!!!

I totally disagree, I travel through the junction twice a day and it is a lot quicker than it as before.

Lord gungedin of Ferndown wrote:
Rubbish, absolute rubbish. It's much better! Was it worth the money? ...debatable, but it certainly is much quicker now.

Surely it depends on everyone's specific journey and the traffic
ight phasing for that route?

Mr Mahy's journey is from Moordown to Wimborne, but there are 30 different combinations of routes through the junction.

Unless people have tested all 30 routes at all times of day and day of week, I'm not sure how anyone can proclaim ”It's brilliant" or "it's rubbish".

arti273 wrote:

Lord gungedin of Ferndown wrote:
Rubbish, absolute rubbish. It's much better! Was it worth the money? ...debatable, but it certainly is much quicker now.

Surely it depends on everyone's specific journey and the traffic
ight phasing for that route?

Mr Mahy's journey is from Moordown to Wimborne, but there are 30 different combinations of routes through the junction.

Unless people have tested all 30 routes at all times of day and day of week, I'm not sure how anyone can proclaim ”It's brilliant" or "it's rubbish".

Please tell me you sat and worked out all the combinations. I would love that.

The new system seemed to be working quite well until there was a recent change to the light sequence.
If you watch the A31 traffic it sails through while the outside ring is stationary. The original plan was sold to us as making it easier for the "local" traffic to negotiate the junction. Now priority has been moved back to the flow of the A31. There needs to be more time given to the outside light sequence and less to the A31.
The middle section of the A31 box was going to be a holding area to allow the local traffic to move. Now that holding section hardly ever gets full as they have been set as the priority.

Martyn Mahy, a consultant safety engineer with Cobham Mission Equipment in Brook Road, said his journey from Moordown to Wimborne previously took 15-20 minutes and could now take 45 minutes.
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Well leave a bit earlier then, simple.

dailyechoreader247 wrote:

arti273 wrote:

Lord gungedin of Ferndown wrote:
Rubbish, absolute rubbish. It's much better! Was it worth the money? ...debatable, but it certainly is much quicker now.

Surely it depends on everyone's specific journey and the traffic
ight phasing for that route?

Mr Mahy's journey is from Moordown to Wimborne, but there are 30 different combinations of routes through the junction.

Unless people have tested all 30 routes at all times of day and day of week, I'm not sure how anyone can proclaim ”It's brilliant" or "it's rubbish".

Please tell me you sat and worked out all the combinations. I would love that.

6 entry points, 5 exits (assuming you're not going back home because you left the iron on).

6 x 5 = 30.

Though, yes - I was technically sat when I "worked" it out.

Once you get used to it there is no problem,just get the idiots who think they can move forward and block emerging vehicles instead of holding back for a few seconds sorted out and things run smoothly,its not complicated,it is just dopey drivers causing the problems.

Mr. Mahy, get out of bed earlier and you'll miss your dreaded rush hour!!!! Well done on your 15 minutes of fame!

arti273 wrote:

dailyechoreader247 wrote:

arti273 wrote:

Lord gungedin of Ferndown wrote: Rubbish, absolute rubbish. It's much better! Was it worth the money? ...debatable, but it certainly is much quicker now.

Surely it depends on everyone's specific journey and the traffic ight phasing for that route? Mr Mahy's journey is from Moordown to Wimborne, but there are 30 different combinations of routes through the junction. Unless people have tested all 30 routes at all times of day and day of week, I'm not sure how anyone can proclaim ”It's brilliant" or "it's rubbish".

Please tell me you sat and worked out all the combinations. I would love that.

6 entry points, 5 exits (assuming you're not going back home because you left the iron on). 6 x 5 = 30. Though, yes - I was technically sat when I "worked" it out.

You need to get out more.........

I have on record from the Consultants that they have no plan B with regard to road closures.
The A31, which this was designed to speed through, has been closed on a number of actions because of accidents elsewhere (not one the regular prangs on the junction itself reported in these pages - do a search on here "Canford Bottom Roundabout if you don't believe me)
A31 Traffic forced to leave at the roundabout can then only do so about 5 cars at at a time because of the lights controlling the roundabout traffic!

As to the general pro's and cons, it appears that the 2 car queueing lane before crossing the A31 itself when approached from Ham Lane is one major issue, as is the short queueing lane for the A31 West. The latter even has road markings which make it difficult for anything other than a small car to negotiate / follow in lane.

It would appear that those using Wimborne / Ferndown roads see some improvement. For the rest of us its regular misery & mayhem as we try to avoid the lane changers / blockers.

Letcommonsenseprevai
l wrote:

arti273 wrote:

dailyechoreader247 wrote:

arti273 wrote:

Lord gungedin of Ferndown wrote: Rubbish, absolute rubbish. It's much better! Was it worth the money? ...debatable, but it certainly is much quicker now.

Surely it depends on everyone's specific journey and the traffic ight phasing for that route? Mr Mahy's journey is from Moordown to Wimborne, but there are 30 different combinations of routes through the junction. Unless people have tested all 30 routes at all times of day and day of week, I'm not sure how anyone can proclaim ”It's brilliant" or "it's rubbish".

Please tell me you sat and worked out all the combinations. I would love that.

6 entry points, 5 exits (assuming you're not going back home because you left the iron on). 6 x 5 = 30. Though, yes - I was technically sat when I "worked" it out.

You need to get out more.........

Not only that, do they look at the road ahead and look what they are doing not just entry points and exits. Scary.

For the last two mornings at least, the A31 eastbound has ground to a complete halt, sometimes not moving for 10 minutes or more, only to find when you get to the junction there are a handful of cars waiting to cross the central section.

What appears to be happening is that there is a lot of traffic wanting to turn off left into Wimborne, but they are blocked at a red light and there is insufficient room for the queue.

This blocks the main A31, causing a tailback all the way to the Merley roundabout.

Net Turner wrote:

Letcommonsenseprevai

l wrote:

arti273 wrote:

dailyechoreader247 wrote:

arti273 wrote:

Lord gungedin of Ferndown wrote: Rubbish, absolute rubbish. It's much better! Was it worth the money? ...debatable, but it certainly is much quicker now.

Surely it depends on everyone's specific journey and the traffic ight phasing for that route? Mr Mahy's journey is from Moordown to Wimborne, but there are 30 different combinations of routes through the junction. Unless people have tested all 30 routes at all times of day and day of week, I'm not sure how anyone can proclaim ”It's brilliant" or "it's rubbish".

Please tell me you sat and worked out all the combinations. I would love that.

6 entry points, 5 exits (assuming you're not going back home because you left the iron on). 6 x 5 = 30. Though, yes - I was technically sat when I "worked" it out.

You need to get out more.........

Not only that, do they look at the road ahead and look what they are doing not just entry points and exits. Scary.

No, not scary. I'd be worried if anyone was driving through there on a regular basis and didn't know they had 5 possible exits.

But perhaps the fact that people don't is really the issue here, not my ability to do basic arithmetic.

I find it mostly to be quicker and certainly safer.

However there are still numpties who block other vehicles.

UTC !

What are the accident statistics? I think the new roundabout is dangerous and avoid it if possible.

shambles wait for the tourist season

So it's much slower, and also much quicker. You coudn't make it up.

Teddy 1 wrote:
What are the accident statistics? I think the new roundabout is dangerous and avoid it if possible.

So you've made your mind up before knowing the facts - typical Echo reader!

Brian Badonde wrote:
For the last two mornings at least, the A31 eastbound has ground to a complete halt, sometimes not moving for 10 minutes or more, only to find when you get to the junction there are a handful of cars waiting to cross the central section. What appears to be happening is that there is a lot of traffic wanting to turn off left into Wimborne, but they are blocked at a red light and there is insufficient room for the queue. This blocks the main A31, causing a tailback all the way to the Merley roundabout.

Good. 'Cos when you guys are all snarled up onthe roundabout I can cycle safely past for a change!

when maintenance time is due, and the lights go out, it'll run smoothly! Just like fleets roundabout.

Before the "improvements" I had few problems at the Canford Bottom roundabout, now I have problems nearly every time I use it, especially on the local roads. Many times I never even had to stop there, now I always have to.

If I have a green light I just go, which I am legally entitled to do. I am pleased if in doing this I block a junction, and I wished more drivers would do this. If we prove that the new roundabout does not work, then the traffic lights might be removed, which will save on electricity and fuel wastage from stationary vehicles, so helping the environment. Of course the road through the centre would have to be blocked off so the junction could function again as a proper roundabout, which could then be landscaped so helping the environment further.( even the rabbits might return).

When will the transport planners learn, you have either a roundabout OR traffic lights at a junction, not both. Look how well Fleetsbridge works when the lights are turned off for maintenance.

Of course it will all have been a dreadful waste of money, but then we are all used to this in this area, aren't we? ( eg Imax and surf reef).

Absolute tosh. My journey on the A31 is quicker since the changes. The only criticism I have is the sequence of the lights from Ham Lane is wrong. They should be green on both sets of lights longer to allow traffic to move. Sometimes you get stuck between the two sets. I find the elderly drivers do get confused and switch lanes unexpectedly.

EGHH wrote:
Absolute tosh. My journey on the A31 is quicker since the changes. The only criticism I have is the sequence of the lights from Ham Lane is wrong. They should be green on both sets of lights longer to allow traffic to move. Sometimes you get stuck between the two sets. I find the elderly drivers do get confused and switch lanes unexpectedly.

so you stopped to check the age of drivers on the junction............
.no wonder we have holdups.. or is that just a guess cuz you dont like older drivers ??

How about a flyover?

Old Colonial wrote:
How about a flyover?

Old Colonial. Your dead right. Money wasted on the roundabout. One day a flyover will come. It only needed to be a simple and relatively cheap flyover such as have been built around the country.
What angers me is how the Highways Authority seem to do whatever they want without taking proper account of their customers (us) views. It's the same with many other road designs. They always no best!

Sagacity wrote:
Before the "improvements" I had few problems at the Canford Bottom roundabout, now I have problems nearly every time I use it, especially on the local roads. Many times I never even had to stop there, now I always have to.

If I have a green light I just go, which I am legally entitled to do. I am pleased if in doing this I block a junction, and I wished more drivers would do this. If we prove that the new roundabout does not work, then the traffic lights might be removed, which will save on electricity and fuel wastage from stationary vehicles, so helping the environment. Of course the road through the centre would have to be blocked off so the junction could function again as a proper roundabout, which could then be landscaped so helping the environment further.( even the rabbits might return).

When will the transport planners learn, you have either a roundabout OR traffic lights at a junction, not both. Look how well Fleetsbridge works when the lights are turned off for maintenance.

Of course it will all have been a dreadful waste of money, but then we are all used to this in this area, aren't we? ( eg Imax and surf reef).

Sounds like you should be a transport planner. Maybe you could also fix world peace and end famine while you're at it.

Chris the plumber wrote:

EGHH wrote:
Absolute tosh. My journey on the A31 is quicker since the changes. The only criticism I have is the sequence of the lights from Ham Lane is wrong. They should be green on both sets of lights longer to allow traffic to move. Sometimes you get stuck between the two sets. I find the elderly drivers do get confused and switch lanes unexpectedly.

so you stopped to check the age of drivers on the junction............

.no wonder we have holdups.. or is that just a guess cuz you dont like older drivers ??

I happened to be 60! The difference is I drive about 50,000 miles a year all over the country in my job on all types of roads. Been driving since I was 17 and never had an accident or speeding ticket.

Most elderly drivers here pop out to shops and get confused easily and don't read the road signs or the road conditions.

When a car suddenly changes lanes in front of you I do notice the driver! I take it you drive with your eyes closed!!

I can only speak from my own experiences but it seems like a vastly improved junction to me.

Its this type of topic that shows exactly what is wrong with the attitude of drivers on our roads that lead to all types of incidents through their lack of consideration.Starti
ng with one that obviously gets great delight in blocking traffic from flowing,perfectly legal of course just perfectly selfish and through to of course one of my favorites, been driving 100years no points,no fines etc etc (probably one of the worse type of drivers on the road)

Another pointless story about Wimborne. First the football jibe now the roundabout that works far better than before!!

Are these so called reporters not able to generate some real news for their salaries?

EGHH wrote:

Chris the plumber wrote:

EGHH wrote:
Absolute tosh. My journey on the A31 is quicker since the changes. The only criticism I have is the sequence of the lights from Ham Lane is wrong. They should be green on both sets of lights longer to allow traffic to move. Sometimes you get stuck between the two sets. I find the elderly drivers do get confused and switch lanes unexpectedly.

so you stopped to check the age of drivers on the junction............


.no wonder we have holdups.. or is that just a guess cuz you dont like older drivers ??

I happened to be 60! The difference is I drive about 50,000 miles a year all over the country in my job on all types of roads. Been driving since I was 17 and never had an accident or speeding ticket.

Most elderly drivers here pop out to shops and get confused easily and don't read the road signs or the road conditions.

When a car suddenly changes lanes in front of you I do notice the driver! I take it you drive with your eyes closed!!

Join the club of us `52ers i drive 51,000 miles a year been driveig since 13, passed my test at 17 and yes i am, like you an old driver .. but as you will notice the people who count , the insurance companies disagree with you and think us older drivers are better, and you must have had a very quiote youth if you got not one speeding fine, my last one was in 1976, i have grown up a lot since then.

EGHH wrote:

Chris the plumber wrote:

EGHH wrote:
Absolute tosh. My journey on the A31 is quicker since the changes. The only criticism I have is the sequence of the lights from Ham Lane is wrong. They should be green on both sets of lights longer to allow traffic to move. Sometimes you get stuck between the two sets. I find the elderly drivers do get confused and switch lanes unexpectedly.

so you stopped to check the age of drivers on the junction............


.no wonder we have holdups.. or is that just a guess cuz you dont like older drivers ??

I happened to be 60! The difference is I drive about 50,000 miles a year all over the country in my job on all types of roads. Been driving since I was 17 and never had an accident or speeding ticket.

Most elderly drivers here pop out to shops and get confused easily and don't read the road signs or the road conditions.

When a car suddenly changes lanes in front of you I do notice the driver! I take it you drive with your eyes closed!!

Join the club of us `52ers i drive 51,000 miles a year been driveig since 13, passed my test at 17 and yes i am, like you an old driver .. but as you will notice the people who count , the insurance companies disagree with you and think us older drivers are better, and you must have had a very quiote youth if you got not one speeding fine, my last one was in 1976, i have grown up a lot since then.

EGHH wrote:
Absolute tosh. My journey on the A31 is quicker since the changes. The only criticism I have is the sequence of the lights from Ham Lane is wrong. They should be green on both sets of lights longer to allow traffic to move. Sometimes you get stuck between the two sets. I find the elderly drivers do get confused and switch lanes unexpectedly.

Well of course they get confused half the road signs werent around when they passed their tests that is why i have always said there needs to be re-tests for the over 50s this would reduce congestion as most would not pass and would be off the roads

Anyone who uses the roundabout regularly will have noticed in the mornings over the last 2 weeks that EnterpriseMouchel, who are responsible for the mess, have been fiddling with the traffic light phasing and have caused tailbacks over one mile in length first on Wimborne Road West back towards Wimborne Minster town centre and then today a one mile tailback down Ham Lane to Haskyns. When will EnterpriseMouchel be forced to quit tinkering and causing chaos and restore the roundabout to its former state, pre Olympic Games?

The ones who cause the most danger on the roundabout are the regular users who know full well which lane they should be in, but intentionally try to queue jump by using the Ferndown Lane and then cutting into the Longham/Parley lane at the last minute, causing motorists already in that lane to brake sharply. Then there are those idiots who intentionally enter the roundabout at the last minute ignoring a red traffic light and then block everyone elses path!