Dorset Council is asking Weymouth residents what they think about proposals for a new crossing that it hopes would improve connectivity, enhance the pedestrian and cycle network, and would improve accessibility over a wide area.
The B3155 Swannery Bridge is the main road access to Weymouth train station and town centre, and experiences high traffic. It is an important link between residential areas to the west, including Southill and Westham, and northern parts of the town centre, such as the rail station, Weymouth College, Weymouth Community Hospital and other sites in this area.
There is no safe direct crossing on the Swannery bridge for people walking and cycling between Southill, Westham, Rodwell trail and King Street, Weymouth rail station.
A new low level 80m long pedestrian/cycling bridge is proposed alongside the B3155 Swannery Bridge to connect to existing pedestrian and cycle paths either side of Radipole Lake. This will improve access to Weymouth train station, the town centre, and seafront areas and shorten journey times for Westham and Southill residents heading into town on foot or cycling.
In addition to the new link for people on foot and bikes by Swannery Bridge, other proposed changes include alterations to improve pedestrian and cycle movement to Weymouth rail station. These measures include:
- Extension of 100m of cycleway on King Street between the Commercial Road junction and the railway station, connecting the cycleway network and the train station
- A ‘pocket park’ on the section of disused railway between King Street and the Jubilee Trading Estate, providing an onward pedestrian / cycle connection to the north of Weymouth via the Alexander footbridge over the railway
- Making Park Street two–way for cyclists to enable safe movement south from the railway station to the town centre.
The new bridge would connect the Rodwell Trail and routes to the rail station and the Esplanade at Jubilee Clock. It would also provide recreational and viewing opportunities at Radipole Lake.
This proposal will complement the planned Weymouth Railway Station Gateway enhancements currently being led by Dorset Coast Forum, which aim to transform the station forecourt area and improve the first impressions of Weymouth station.
Dorset Council is preparing a transport bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, which allows councils to bid for finance to carry out transformative projects. To help inform the part of the bid which refers to the Swannery Bridge proposals, the Council is running a short online survey asking Weymouth residents what they think. The survey results will be considered when finalising the proposals, included in any funding submission, and published publicly.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
“We want to know what Weymouth residents think about these exciting proposals that, if implemented, would provide easier and safer access to the station and town centre for people on foot and bike. This would reduce congestion on key town centre routes and improve public health from increased regular active journeys.
Whether we could go ahead with such an ambitious scheme is dependent on securing funding, so it’s vitally important that we have wide support from the local community before we submit the bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. Please head over to the website, read the details of our suggestions, and take a few minutes to let us know your views. Thank you in advance for your help.”
The survey can be found online and will be open until Friday 18 June.
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