Dorset Council has announced that its controversial Julian’s Bridge traffic trial in Wimborne will end early following an overwhelming public response.
The temporary one-way system, introduced to test whether traffic signals and a dedicated pedestrian crossing area could improve safety on the Grade I listed bridge, will be removed and the bridge reopened to two-way traffic on Thursday 18th June.
The decision follows nearly 3,000 responses to a public survey, alongside extensive monitoring of traffic flows, journey times and wider impacts on the local road network.
The trial, which has caused significant congestion and frustration for motorists since its introduction, will remain in place during this weekend’s Wimborne Folk Festival before being removed next week. The council says keeping the scheme in place for the event will allow it to gather final data on pedestrian movements during one of the busiest periods of the year.
Councillor Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said: ‘We know this trial has been difficult for people, especially when the road has been busy, but we are listening to what residents and businesses tell us.
‘The huge response to our survey and the data we’ve collected illustrates how the single lane works in practice for vehicle movement over the bridge and in the local area.
‘However, we also need to gather data when large numbers cross on foot. Keeping the trial in place over the Folk Festival will give us this valuable insight when the bridge is at its busiest for pedestrians.
‘That means we can bring the trial to an earlier close and reopen the bridge fully on Thursday 18 June.’
The council stressed that no final decisions have yet been made about the bridge’s future. The survey will remain open over the summer, and officers will continue analysing the evidence gathered before deciding whether any permanent changes should be considered.
Andrews added: ‘This is about making sure any future decisions are based on clear evidence. We need to find the right balance between keeping people safe, keeping traffic moving and respecting the bridge’s historic status as a Grade 1 listed structure.’
The bridge will close temporarily on 18th June while traffic lights and associated equipment are removed before reopening later the same day. Dorset Council says further updates will be issued once the trial findings have been reviewed.
