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A338 Spur Road and Upton bypass closed because of ice

11:40am Saturday 2nd January 2010 in


THE A338 Bournemouth Spur Road and the Upton bypass were both closed for several hours today due to ice and accidents.

Police said there was chaos on the county's roads as there was "literally ice everywhere".

Three separate incidents occured on the A350 Upton bypass within 200m of each other, just before 10.40am. The road was closed between the Holes Bay roundabout and the Upton flyover until gritters could arrive.

The A31 at West Moors was also reported as dangerous because of ice.

The sub-freezing temperatures also caused problems on the A350 at Cann, and on the M3.

Let us know what it's like where you are in the comments below.

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Comments(33)

ski says...
10:53am Sat 2 Jan 10

So where were the gritters yet again?

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fedupwithjobsworths says...
11:08am Sat 2 Jan 10

ski wrote:
So where were the gritters yet again?
Absolutely - this weather was forecast!

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AKKA says...
11:20am Sat 2 Jan 10

No it wasn't - it was going to get warmer and warmer and phew what a scorcher!
Signed: A council official

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Lord Spring says...
11:25am Sat 2 Jan 10

The gritters have been out, and so have the drivers who have never ridden a motorcycle in winter conditions.

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Bournemouth says...
12:45pm Sat 2 Jan 10

Why does everyone assume that the gritters haven't been out just because there have been a couple of accidents?
Yesterday when you were probably enjoying your time with your families on the bank holiday I saw plenty of gritting lorries - I'm sure they are glad that their work, HELPING to keep the roads safe, is appreciated.

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r50mini says...
2:56pm Sat 2 Jan 10

It was forecast, but yet again people do not seem to know how to adjust their driving to the conditions. However society these days finds it easier these days to blame others, rather than accept responsibility for their own actions.

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MandinVerwood says...
2:57pm Sat 2 Jan 10

I too saw the griters at work - so not their fault. Plus there was no rain either that froze like the last time. However a little bit of grit doesn't suddenly make the road safe again to drive at breakneak speeds and you should still be driving around safely according to the conditions (ie not 80MPH on the bumper of the car in front as some were doing).

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cookie monster says...
3:01pm Sat 2 Jan 10

I was out on the Upton bypass at half 8 this morning and could not see ANY sign of grit all the way into Poole even on the dual carriageways. The roads were scary and there were still people driving too fast/following too close for the conditions.

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tt52 says...
3:35pm Sat 2 Jan 10

Lord Spring wrote:
The gritters have been out, and so have the drivers who have never ridden a motorcycle in winter conditions.
Ive just driven from Bournemouth to Southampton and seen no evidence of the roads being gritted early this morning, having said that i have noticed most drivers are not adjusting the way they drive in these conditions, completely bonkers most of them, just another offence that the speed camera doesn't spot, there are a lot of nutters out there today, serves them right if they total their motor

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SFRA says...
3:37pm Sat 2 Jan 10

Regardless of what is done to the roads as far as ice goes, it is ultimately the drivers care and attention is at fault if accidents are caused, or not being able to handle the conditions. Do not blame it on those who have spent most of the holidays out doing what you want so that you can motor up the roads at break neck speed.

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WIGGINSv says...
3:58pm Sat 2 Jan 10

AKKA wrote:
No it wasn't - it was going to get warmer and warmer and phew what a scorcher! Signed: A council official
Don't you mean Al Bore?

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upontown says...
4:09pm Sat 2 Jan 10

I used the Upton by-pass at 5.45am on my way to Wareham and for the whole journey there was no evidence of Gritting. I still managed to get there so what happened to the ones that crashed, rubbish drivers?

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nigglygrilly says...
4:42pm Sat 2 Jan 10

We drove from West London to Poole yesterday evening and saw no evidence of gritting at all!
At 8.15 this morning I walked from my house to Poole hospital and there was absolutely no evidence of any grit on the roads or the pavements - even right outside the hopsital - oh apart from some that the hospital staff had put on the steps! If the roads had been gritted there should at least have been a few pieces of grit in the gutters or on the pavements where it flies up where the drivers are driving too fast for the conditions!
Yes drivers need to adjust their driving but there does need to be gritting - partly cos the grit does go up on the pavements and makes it a bit safer fof those of us who choose to leave cars behind and walk because of the road conditions!
These conditions call for team work from all drivers and the councils, for consideration for pedestrians from drivers and vice versa and for ALL drivers of ALL types and kinds of vehicles to drive safely within their capabilities taking due regard of their experience and the conditions at the time.
I am not blaming anyone though people need to work together.
Oh and while I am here can I make a plea for anyone who has an elderly neighbour or relative, to make sure that they are safe and warm enough and have enough food/supplies to see them through the cold snaps.
Thank you

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patsanmun says...
4:59pm Sat 2 Jan 10

My son was in an accident on the a338 this morning, he hit an ice patch and the car spun to which he then hit a mud bank, the car then somersaulted in the air and ended up in a ditch upside down, my son was so lucky to walk away from this and we thank god that he did, but i will comment that the police officer at the scene did say that they had been trying all morning to ring the council to come and grit the road, but there was an answering machine switched on, no he was not speeding, and infact as the paramedics were attending my son another car hit the same ice patch and there car glided over my sons into the ditch as well,
I would also like to thank the lorry driver that helped my son out of his car whilst all other cars just drove past.

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Knife-edge says...
5:27pm Sat 2 Jan 10

Trust he is ok.
If there is sheet black ice than anything above walking pace can potentially cause loss of control. Are the finger wagers on here suggesting that traffic should be driving at walking pace on major trunk routes?
It think it is perfectly reasonable to expect roads like the Spur Road and Upton by-pass to be salted / gritted, ice free and perfectly safe to drive on a frosty morning. Not exactly back roads... and frosty mornings are hardly a rarity.

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terry1965 says...
5:33pm Sat 2 Jan 10

The failure of the local councils to ensure the main road into Bournemouth and the A35 at Upton were adequately gritted and safe is an absolute disgrace.
Why is it that every time the thermometer dips below freezing everything grinds to a halt? In this day and age with reliable(ish) weather forecasting it's not only unacceptable, it's utterly pathetic.
The person in charge should lose their job for this because they clearly don't know what they're doing.

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fairlylocal says...
6:15pm Sat 2 Jan 10

Well I saw a gritter out... this afternoon, about 4pm... when it was relatively warm... he was driving through Charminster without his flashing lights on, pelting all the parked cars, and my car, with shards of grit. I really appreciated getting home with ruined paintwork.

Thanks Bournemouth Council, I hope you're happy; you do such a stand up job keeping this town in such a pristine condition, you lazy bunch of overpaid worthless swines. Sorry, was that a bit rude?

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Hickery says...
6:51pm Sat 2 Jan 10

Is it Bournemouth Borough Council, or Dorset County Council, who are responsible for gritting the A338 Spur Road north of the Blackwater junction?

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tony.b says...
7:57pm Sat 2 Jan 10

A338 North of the sewerage farm belongs to Christchurch/Dorset Council

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magura says...
9:30pm Sat 2 Jan 10

From the upton bypass roundabout to the bakers arms to bere regis then on to dorchester at 12pm not a sign of grit on the roads and ice every where, Well done Dorset County Council and not even an excuse like last time "Qoute the rain washed the grit away "No did it really .

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Bournemouthstorm says...
10:04pm Sat 2 Jan 10

Well I did see gritters out last night down A338 and on Poole Road.
Grit on its own doesn’t stop roads getting icy. The grit needs traffic to grind the grit down. Even when gritted you are still going to get icy patches. The council does not even have to grit the roads. It just really bugs me when people say the road where not gritted when I have seen them being gritted. Another thing, people often say "I didn’t realise it was icy even though before jumping in there car they have just been scraping the ice off! One other thing, it is not the weather that causes accidents, it is people driving to fast or braking to fast for the conditions.

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Robin Christchurch says...
10:53pm Sat 2 Jan 10

I am relieved to hear that nobody was seriously injured this morning on the Spur Road - at least that is the assumption from the lady's post above about her son. However I do once again question the 'wisdom' of Dorset Police's response in shutting the northbound carriageway and later the southbound as well. I appreciate that the emergency services have the right to remain safe, but it seems to me they shut roads these days at the drop of a hat. This morning this forced cars off a dual carriageway which was heavily populated by police cars onto an untreated 'B' road. I think we can all be counted fortunate they didn't end up dealing with several other incidents! I lament the death of common sense in our 'police service'. This closure which endured for hours, could easily have indriectly caused so much worse than traffic 'chaos'

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SFRA says...
11:08pm Sat 2 Jan 10

It does not matter what anyone does, whether it is the Police and Emergency Services attending an accident and closing off the road for investigation and evidence. Whether the gritters have been out or not, whether it is Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch or Dorset County Council, or whether it is the A338, A31, or A35. There is always something for the average driver to moan and whinge about. What they do not moan about is the actual driving by those in MOST cases. How many accidents involving vehicles, how many vehicles on the road, WHAT WAS THE PERCENTAGE OF CAREFUL DRIVERS............

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dribble says...
11:11pm Sat 2 Jan 10

patsanmun
.
I'm glad your son is OK I heard about the accident on the radio and it seems like he was very lucky.
.
Tonight, the side roads are freezing again and it's slippy out there. If the side roads in Boscombe are freezing, then doubtless it will be worse on the A338 and the A31 at Ringwood.
.
Please, all stay safe and moderate your driving.

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Robin Christchurch says...
11:47pm Sat 2 Jan 10

Following on then from SFRA's comment, by logical conclusion there is no need to grit roads or for that matter take any wise precaution. I fully agree that drivers must shoulder their share of blame and should drvie accroding to the conditions. All I am saying that there was a time when the police acted in the interests of all road users - not just their own elf'n'safety . In the case of this morning, where with a bit of thought and the judicious use of the police cars' blue lights and so on, it would have been safer to allow traffic to pass slowly and carefully rather than shove it all onto what is by definition and repute a more dangerous road at the best of times - Matchams Lane. Whats more I bet the average police office would agree.

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SFRA says...
12:45am Sun 3 Jan 10

You maybe right Robin, but again can the drivers be trusted, when lane closures are enforced, or a roadway is reduced in lanes. This also has to be taken into consideration. Ask anyone who has worked on motorways when a contraflow system has been put in force, it does not slow all the drivers down. Better safe than sorry, was the caution taken by Dorset Police. They did not want drivers skidding on a single lane system, and into emergency vehicles etc. Also I am not saying that precautions should not be taken, but emphasis has to be on the driver of vehicles, a vehicle being driven correctly, and cautiously. As some one pointed out, if there is ice on your car or in your area, you can guarantee it will be on open roads.

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patsanmun says...
8:37am Sun 3 Jan 10

Bournemouthstorm wrote:
Well I did see gritters out last night down A338 and on Poole Road.
Grit on its own doesn’t stop roads getting icy. The grit needs traffic to grind the grit down. Even when gritted you are still going to get icy patches. The council does not even have to grit the roads. It just really bugs me when people say the road where not gritted when I have seen them being gritted. Another thing, people often say "I didn’t realise it was icy even though before jumping in there car they have just been scraping the ice off! One other thing, it is not the weather that causes accidents, it is people driving to fast or braking to fast for the conditions.
My son was cautious as we do tell him every morning to be this because of the roads, he hit an ice patch the car went out of control then hit a mud bank, and he then had a flying lesson he did not expect to have.
Whilst being attended by the paramedics another car hit the same ice patch and carreered over my sons car, that drive was also cautious as there were ambulance and police at the scene so traffic was going slow anyway.
I have just sat up all night with my son with his breathing problems and pains from this accident and I hope to god that you and no one has to go thru this.

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PHew says...
9:02am Sun 3 Jan 10

Maybe the police closed the road to point out the time it took for the gritters to contacted and brought out? :-) Yes we should expect main routes like this to be tended to in cold weather, but only so that we drivers can actually do our journeys (at vastly reduced and thus safe speeds) not at our usual speeds (legal and not legal!!) A friend made it to Southampton and back via the Lyndhurst route without hassle at all....Hope everyone in the accidents are ok.

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wayneofafcb says...
11:35am Sun 3 Jan 10

Time some electronic signs were placed along Spur road, Dorset Way, and othe major roads, to display temp 30 mph speed limits, and black ice warnings. May save emergency services a fortune. But in these days of everyone watching their budgets, no one Government department will invest.
Needs an orginistation to plan it. Maybe would could call them councils.They could plan and orginise roadworks, street cleaning, etc. But i suppose it would never work. !!

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thechallenge says...
3:26pm Sun 3 Jan 10

This global warming is a nightmare isn't it.

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Avengerboy says...
10:58pm Sun 3 Jan 10

Its called 'Global' warming for a reason, a cold spell here in Blighty is no reasoning to be judgemental on the data! And thats got noting to do with who or what's caused it! Its all probably part of a cyclic plan.

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patsanmun says...
2:21pm Mon 4 Jan 10

I would also like to add to my comments, I personally think that the police were right in closing the A338 in both directions because of sheet black ice, it was dangerous to re-open.
The blame should be laid squarely at the door of Christchurch Borough Council who were requested by the police on several occassions before and after these accidents happened to attend and treat the roads accordingly.
The delay seems eveident to have been caused by the non attendants of council operatives.
And to quote from the Highways Act 1980 section 41(1a)
" In particular, a highway authority are under a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice"
I would like to add that my son is still in shock and pain from this accident and will be off work for quite a while, and was extremely lucky to have not sustained any other injuries, We will now be looking for compensation of out of pocket expenses from the authority involved, because as you can all imagine the insurance company have taken all his money for insurance will now not want to pay any back for total loss of his car.

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bushy says...
7:10pm Mon 4 Jan 10

Re your artical in saturdays echo regarding grit stocks.I was traveling from wimborne to blandford on saturday about 11.45am the road was like an ice rink all the drivers were driving very carefully.NO grit had been spread on the road at all. according toyour artical the council have plenty of grit to cope with the bad weather.The truth is that if you dont use it you will keep plenty of stock.

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