Motorists are being left to guess which of Poole’s lifting bridges is open after electronic signs designed to direct traffic have reportedly been out of action for around two years, prompting renewed criticism of BCP Council.
An 82-year-old Hamworthy resident has spoken out over the long-running issue, claiming the faulty signs are creating unnecessary congestion and encouraging drivers to take risks as they race to reach the alternative bridge before it lifts for passing boats.
Colin Moyes says the electronic message boards, which should tell motorists whether to use Poole Bridge or Twin Sails Bridge, have remained unreliable for years, leaving many regular users frustrated.
According to Mr Moyes, drivers frequently arrive at one bridge only to find it opening for marine traffic, forcing them to turn around and head towards the other crossing in the hope of beating the next bridge lift.
Speaking about the issue, he said the situation creates unnecessary pressure on motorists and can lead to dangerous driving as people try to avoid lengthy delays.
He also believes the problem affects almost everyone who regularly uses the bridges, with many drivers approaching the wrong crossing because they have no reliable information about which route is available.
Fresh criticism after months of bridge disruption
For many residents, the broken bridge signs represent yet another example of BCP Council’s poor management of Poole’s transport infrastructure.
After drivers endured around six months of disruption while Poole Bridge underwent major repair works, they are now being left to guess which bridge is open because electronic signs intended to manage traffic have reportedly remained out of service for around two years.
Many residents are likely to question how such a critical traffic management system has been allowed to remain unreliable for so long, particularly on one of the busiest routes in the town.
Mr Moyes, a retired engineer, said he has spent more than two years raising the issue with councillors and council officers but feels progress has been far too slow.
Council promises improvements
BCP Council says it is investing £6 million to improve the long-term reliability of both Poole Bridge and Twin Sails Bridge, which together carry around 20,000 vehicle journeys every day.
As part of the programme, the authority plans to replace the ageing electronic signs with four new digital information panels at a cost of £250,000. The council says the new system will provide more reliable information for motorists while reducing future maintenance costs.
In the meantime, engineers are continuing to work on restoring the existing signs and hope to have them operating again soon.
Drivers are also being advised to check the published lifting schedules for both bridges before travelling through the area.
Twin Sails Bridge opened in 2012 following a 20-month construction project costing £21.6 million, providing a second lifting bridge across Holes Bay to help improve traffic flow through Poole.
