Kings Road East – Don’t drive the wrong way!

Swanage’s town centre traffic experiment is to be scrapped from today, so the one way flow of traffic in Kings Road East will be reversed back to what it used to be, before the Institute Road roadworks took place.

So drivers are being warned that they can no longer turn into Kings Road East from Kings Road West near the Co-op. Traffic will now only be allowed to flow one way, heading out of town from the High Street.

Advertisement 
Road sign at the junction of Kings Road East

Go via Station Road and the newly rebuilt Institute Road

Vehicles coming into town that wish to head towards Swanage Pier and south Swanage, must all go via Station Road and the newly rebuilt Institute Road.

The experimental traffic plan to reverse the direction of traffic along Kings Road East, was originally proposed so that residents in the south of Swanage would be able to take an alternative route to their homes, avoiding the busy Institute Road.

However the trial revealed that the scheme forced large lorries to go along a narrow stretch of the High Street by the Legion or to try to get round a tight bend in Church Hill.

Road sign at the junction of Kings Road East

Higher volume of traffic along the High Street

It also led to a much higher volume of traffic along the High Street, which made it harder for pedestrians to cross, particularly for children walking to Swanage Primary School in Mount Scar.

Swanage Town Council had originally asked Dorset Council to try out the scheme but at its last council meeting, councillors unanimously decided to request an end to the experiment. Speaking at the time, Swanage Mayor, Mike Bonfield said:

“We solved one problem but caused six more problems. We tried it but it is dangerous and I’m happy to tell the people of Swanage that Kings Road East needs to go back to the way it was.”

Share this story

Contact us

Do you have anything to add to this story?

We like to keep everything up-to-date, so if you know more, please help us by getting in touch.

Advertisement 

Top stories

Child injured in dog attack at Swanage pub Police officers and the air ambulance were all called to help after a child was injured in an incident involving a dog in a pub garden in Swanage. 1 month ago Historic Studland home goes on the market for £5 million 4 weeks ago Back with a splash – Swanage Fish Festival returns for 2023 5 days ago Paddle steamer returns to Swanage after appeal keeps her afloat 3 weeks ago Surrey couple ditch corporate life for Dorset safari venture 6 days ago

Most recent

Swanage’s swimmers take second dip into theatre performance After the sell out show of SW!M in 2022 - a combination of storytelling on the stage followed by dancing and swimming in Swanage Bay - the all-female group is ... 4 hours ago Food for thought as Swanage opens second mobile larder 1 day ago New snorkel school explores life under the sea in Swanage 2 days ago Newly discovered 1930s posters to jazz up Swanage’s Mowlem 3 days ago Call to help improve health services in Swanage during time of change 4 days ago