Starting in mid-January 2025, significant safety improvements will be made at the Maumbury Cross junction in Dorchester.

This includes incorporating more signal-controlled pedestrian crossing points into the junction (south of the skate park), widening of footways and upgrading existing equipment. This will provide a safer and more pleasant experience for people waiting to cross.

Maumbury Cross is a busy 4-way junction used by many people including students, parents and carers with children, residents of a nearby care home and bus users, as well as visitors to the hospital, market, leisure centre and skate park.

Coupled with approximately 15,000 vehicles passing through daily, it can be a daunting pedestrian experience, especially for those with limited mobility or vision impairments.

The current layout consists of narrow footways with little space to pass or wait to cross. There is currently only one controlled crossing point. This can make it particularly challenging during rush hours when people are commuting to work or school by foot, bike, or car.

Nearly a quarter (22 per cent*) of households in Dorchester do not have access to a vehicle, and the current layout makes it difficult for many residents to reach their destinations.

The improvements

Work will include a new layout and upgrading of the existing signalling equipment. It will also include:

• New controlled pedestrian crossing points on Maumbury Road eastern arm, Maumbury Road western arm and on Weymouth Avenue northern arm
• Widening and levelling of footways, wherever possible, to improve the pedestrian environment
• A new section of cycleway and an advanced stop line on the uphill section of Maumbury Road to help cyclists through the junction
• Relocation of the existing crossing point on the railway bridge and replacing with a new Puffin crossing closer to Queens Avenue. This will provide more footway space for people waiting to cross the road and will be closer to the main route where students walk to and from school.

To enable the new crossing location, the northbound bus stop will be moved to the south side of the Queens Avenue junction with Weymouth Avenue.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Cabinet Member for Place Services, said: "Maumbury Cross is a vital route for many people, whether walkers, wheelers or drivers, so care has been taken to design a scheme that will enhance safety for all.

"Our intention is to make the Cross a safer and more efficient place for all. Nearly a quarter of Dorchester households do not have access to a vehicle and, coupled with out-of-date equipment, the pedestrian experience can be unpleasant for many.

"With 4-way traffic movement, and thousands of vehicles passing through daily, it will be a complex scheme to build, but I hope everyone can be patient and understanding."

A guide dog owner who lives in Dorchester is delighted the crossing is being improved.

She said: "It's really difficult to cross if you have low vision. I've had a couple of near misses there, so avoid using the crossing and walk a different route that is a lot longer.

"The improvements will make the junction safer for everyone, including the students from the nearby schools who have to use the crossing.

"I am really pleased the council's highways team reached out to Dorchester Access Group for our thoughts on the improvements and took our concerns seriously before finalising the plan."

The work will start in mid-January and will complete in the spring. Further details will be published as we approach the start date, and signs will be erected in advance.