Dorset Council is suspending work on the Swanage town centre improvement scheme, after the UK Government told all workers to stay at home if possible, to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus. Institute Road has been reopened and the temporary traffic lights have been removed.
In a statement, the senior coordinator on Dorset Council’s Traffic Team, John Alford said:
“Dorset Council has taken the decision to suspend works on the Swanage Town Centre enhancement scheme to comply with current government advice. This morning, works are being undertaken to make the site on Institute Road safe.
“At 2 pm today the temporary traffic management system around Institute Road, including the temporary traffic signals in the High Street, will be removed. This means that the road system around the town centre will revert to its normal one-way flow. Traffic will be permitted to use Institute Road.
“Traffic flow in Kings Road East will revert to northbound. Stafford Road will revert to being two-way. We will update you again as soon as the works can recommence.”
Improve pedestrian safety
Institute Road in the centre of Swanage’s shopping area was meant to be closed until May 2020, while construction work took place to improve pedestrian safety, following a serious collision in 2015.
The roadworks, that have been partially completed, include plans to widen the pavements and to re-position the loading bay, to stop vehicles having to mount the pavement to get round parked lorries in the loading area.
The work still needs to be completed but it’s now unlikely to be finished until at least autumn 2020.
