£1.6m to fund major improvements to vital economic corridor at Boundary Roundabout

Boundary Roundabout will be transformed into a continental style^* roundabout thanks to a £1.6m cash injection secured by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (Dorset LEP) through the Local Growth Fund plus £313,400 from BCP Council. Major changes to the roundabout’s four road approaches and the installation of new crossings, footways and cycle paths will ensure safer and more effective traffic flow and journeys for all road users across this economically important transport route.

Jim Stewart, Chair of Dorset LEP said: “The investment in Boundary Roundabout futureproofs a prime economic corridor linking Bournemouth and Poole. It carries around 24,000 vehicles a day and is also a key route for university students with approximately 7,000 pedestrians and 750 cyclists negotiating this busy roundabout daily during term time. 

“We are proud to have secured funding for this major strategic investment which will ensure more reliable and safer journeys, support our two economically important universities and boost sustainable economic growth and productivity.”

Professor Emma Hunt, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) said: “AUB is expanding, not only as a university but as a centre of innovation and entrepreneurship with growing influence in the creative and digital industries sector. It is very important that our local infrastructure is able to support future growth, both on the part of the university and of the conurbation itself, with an increasing number of visitors, students and creative enterprises setting up businesses in the area.

“Investment in these key transport links will vastly improve travel for residents and visitors, attracting additional valuable investment to the area and encouraging those studying in Bournemouth to launch their creative enterprises in the town too.”

Councillor Andy Hadley, Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure at BCP Council said: “The essential improvements to Boundary Roundabout will reduce collisions in the area by providing safer facilities for all users, especially pedestrians and cyclists, at a location that has been especially problematic. This will also help to encourage the uptake of more sustainable, healthier and environmentally friendly modes of transport along one of the conurbation’s key connecting routes.

“Forming part of our wider Wallisdown Corridor improvement works, we encourage people to plan ahead, allow extra journey time, use alternative routes, or use a bus or Beryl Bike whilst these works are being carried out.’’

Work at the roundabout, delivered by BCP Council, is due to start in summer 2020 and complete by spring 2021. It will involve the installation of a ‘continental style roundabout’ including:

• Reducing the size of the roundabout and amending the geometry on its approaches and exits to decrease approach, exit and circulatory traffic speeds;
• The installation of a combined off-road footway and cycleway around the roundabout;
• The installation of toucan crossings on Talbot Avenue, Wallisdown Road and Boundary Road and retaining the parallel crossing on Gillett Road;
• Widening the footway to five metres on the north side of Talbot Avenue to create a combined footway and cycleway linking up with facilities at Talbot roundabout;
• Resurfacing the carriageways and footways and replacing kerbing;
• The installation of street furniture, improved lighting, grass, planting and trees.

BCP Council invites residents to view the visuals and detailed plans for the scheme on their dedicated webpage: www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/boundaryroundabout

Various traffic management arrangements will be required throughout the improvement works. Please check the Council’s website for future updates. You can also keep up to date by following BCP Council on Facebook and Twitter.

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Notes to editors:              

* a ‘continental' style roundabout has narrower circulating carriageway widths than typical British roundabouts, the entry and exit points are perpendicular with tighter radii to force vehicles to slow down on the approaches and exits, therefore reducing traffic speeds and improving safety.

Boundary Roundabout is a four-arm roundabout, an important node at the east end of Wallisdown Road, the A3049, housing Bournemouth University and the Arts University Bournemouth at their Talbot Campus.

Existing layout:

Proposed layout:

Dorset LEP

Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership is a business led private and public sector partnership, promoting local economic growth and prosperity. Dorset LEP delivers projects that support and develop infrastructure, housing, skills, enterprise and business growth to achieve long-term economic benefit for all in Dorset. For more information visit the Dorset LEP website http://www.dorsetlep.co.uk/

For more information visit the Dorset LEP http://www.dorsetlep.co.uk/

Local Growth Fund

Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone.

That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders.

Some additional key facts:

• There are 38 LEPs covering the whole of England.
• The government has awarded £9.1bn in three rounds of Growth Deals to local areas to drive economic growth.
• LEPs are investing in a wide range of projects including transport, skills, business support, broadband, innovation and flood defences.