A shuttle signal trial is being planned for Julian’s Bridge to fully assess the feasibility of signals at this location.
Julian’s Bridge is Grade I Listed. The bridge has a carriageway for two-way traffic with average width of 5.4m, which is substandard, and pedestrians currently must walk in the carriageway and use the three refuges positioned within the parapets on each side to avoid traffic. Dorset Police have recorded injury collisions where pedestrians have been struck by vehicles on the bridge.
To improve conditions and provide a safer environment for pedestrians, controlling vehicles with shuttle signals – to alternate one-way flow across the bridge – would allow space for a dedicated pedestrian lane.
The reallocation of road space would also reduce the likelihood of vehicles colliding with the bridge parapet. Parapet strikes often lead to the bridge being fully closed while repairs are carried out and cause significant disruption.
Sturminster Newton Bridge on B3092 is a local Dorset example of a shuttle working system on a Grade I Listed Structure, as is the Town Bridge in Christchurch.
When considering options to improve pedestrian safety, a new, separate bridge – similar to the one at Canford Bridge – is unlikely to be approved due to the higher Grade I listing of Julian’s Bridge.
Proposed trial
Traffic modelling has previously been carried out and suggests the introduction of single way working over the bridge could work without significantly increasing delays.
Due to concerns about queuing traffic and the impact of this on the local road network, a trial of shuttle signals is proposed to fully assess the feasibility of signals at this location.
We plan to install a temporary footway across the bridge with temporary signals in place to control alternate one-way traffic from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 3 July.
We have purposefully chosen to have the trial in place during the busy Wimborne Folk Festival as both pedestrian and vehicle demand is significant during this time, providing a good test of the impact during a peak period.
We will be collecting data and monitoring displaced traffic, as well as traffic speeds and journey times in the area before, during and after the trial.
During the trial, a survey will be available for residents and road users submit comments and give their views on the impact of the temporary shuttle signals.
The trial and data collection from it will inform any future plans for pedestrian provision at this location.
Collision data
There have been 12 incidents of vehicles colliding with the bridge parapets in the last 25 years, requiring repairs to the bridge.
There have been five injury collisions reported in the last five years.