West Dorset MP vows to make A35 safer
There were over 20 casualties on the A35 in 2020 alone.
The MP for West Dorset is promising to make the A35 safer after more than serious 20 injuries in 2020 alone.
Chris Loder is spearheading the A-Roads Taskforce for Dorset, which brings together Dorset Council, Dorset Highways and Highways England.
Among the problems the taskforce aims to tackle are poor signage, flooding and pollution, particularly near Chideock.
Chris told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
"We have accidents on an almost daily basis. Every week when I open a newspaper I'll see details of an accident that has meant the road is closed.
"The thing that concerns me, even more, is where people are losing their lives on this road. We see a number of fatal accidents and I want to make sure as much is done as possible to mitigate that risk.
He says the Taskforce is already doing a lot to improve safety less than a year after its inception.
"They have just started a program of improvement works. It will include sorting out the white lines because, especially if you're driving on the top road in fog, it's a real problem at night, the reflective cat's eyes, the signage, dealing with a number of other things as well."
Roundabouts on the A35 are a particular focus, each with its own issues. Dorchester's Stinsford and Stadium Roundabouts are well known for persistent flooding issues. Chris says flooding issues at Monkey's Jump roundabout have been addressed.
"For years I have been going past that roundabout and it's been flooded while it's rained heavily. It took me to really challenge national Highways in select committee for them to actually change their initial position.
"That's why that's been sorted out now.
"Even around Dorchester, the football roundabout has been fully resurfaced and I'm very pleased about that. There's also been some work done at the Stinsford roundabout and the resurfacing taken over to the east.
"I think we've seen more improvements to the A35 through West Dorset in the last 6-12 months than we have in the last 6-12 years."