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.
For the full report from Dorset council, click here.
A map of the improvements can be viewed here.