Average speed cameras going live to enforce 40mph limit

NEW permanent average-speed cameras on the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road are finally going live tomorrow (Friday) – more than three months later than originally planned.

Installed at the beginning of February and due to have gone up to three weeks later, the yellow average-speed cameras will at first support two different speed limits on the opposing carriageways.

On the southbound carriageway they will enforce a temporary 40mph limit from Blackwater Junction to the Cooper Dean Roundabout. This will be in place for the remainder of the roadworks, due for completion at the end of June.

On the northbound carriageway’s two lanes, the cameras support a 50mph limit, which will also be applied to the southbound lanes when the roadworks finish. This is the limit that was in force before the roadworks.

A spokesperson for BCP Council said that although the cameras had been installed with testing and calibration completed some months ago, there had been issues with power supplies that had now been resolved.

Gary Powell, the senior officer responsible for the A338 improvements, said: “The cameras will help make the Blackwater slip roads easier and safer to use as motorists travel at a consistent speed through the area. They will also help improve the flow of traffic.”

With regard to the southbound carriageway 40mph enforcement cameras, he added: “These are in place for the safety of our operatives who are working during the day, at night and at weekends to complete the improvements as soon as possible.’’

Currently, work on the multi-million-pound A338/Blackwater Junction Improvements scheme is running to schedule.

There will be a series of overnight road closures for final surfacing and barrier installation works until near the end of the scheme.