Lyndhurst – A35 Safer Roads Improvements | Transport and roads

The local community was invited to drop in and find out more about the proposed changes for the area. This provided an opportunity to meet the project team and ask questions. The scheme proposals information pack is still available to view.

Hampshire County Council has been awarded £6 million from the Department for Transport’s Road Safety Fund, with a portion allocated for improvements in Lyndhurst.

Lyndhurst is not only a busy local centre but also a gateway to the New Forest National Park, attracting large numbers of visitors. The A35 and A337 meet in the heart of the village, creating heavy seasonal traffic, regular congestion and speeds that are often higher than appropriate for a village environment.

Over many decades, the road network has evolved to prioritise keeping vehicles moving - particularly the two lane one way system. While this has helped manage traffic volumes, it has also created streets that are uncomfortable to walk or wheel along and difficult to cross, affecting residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Our aim is to rebalance Lyndhurst’s streets so they are safer, more pleasant and reflect the character of a national park gateway. The proposed improvements align with the Hampshire County Council Local Transport Plan (LTP4) and the new national duty to “further the purposes” of National Parks - supporting a thriving environment and enhancing visitor experience.

Please view the Strategic Case presentation to learn why changes are being explored to manage traffic in Lyndhurst and support safer, more sustainable travel for everyone.

A package of small scale, evidence led measures has been developed focused on creating Healthy Streets - streets where everyone feels safe, welcome and able to move around confidently.

1. New zebra crossing at High Street / Gosport Lane

provides a safe, direct crossing point where pedestrian footfall is highest

stops people having to wait for a gap in nonstop traffic to cross the road

widens pavements to give more space and comfort for people waiting to cross

helps lower vehicle speeds at a location with a history of collisions.

2. Introducing a 20mph Speed Limit on High Street and Romsey Road

covers High Street from Shrubbs Hill to Beaulieu Road

extends along Romsey Road to the bus stops

reflects the village centre high footfall (over 70,000 weekly in peak periods)

aims to reduce casualties - 51 injury collisions have occurred in the parish in the last five years.

3. Improving the High Street for people walking, wheeling and cycling

re-designing the car park entrance/exit to reduce vehicle speeds and conflict with pedestrians

creating better and clearer pedestrian routes

reducing traffic to improve the overall village experience.

4. Changes to road markings on the one way system

at Goose Green the two lanes will be reduced to one

this will help slow vehicles - particularly HGVs and improve safety

can be trialled through lining-only changes before longer-term decisions are made.

Potential Future Measures (Subject to Funding and Further Design)

A. Reducing Gosport Lane to One Lane

addresses high speeds on the one way system

typical traffic volumes do not require two lanes

reallocating space could allow a dedicated cycle lane, improving village-wide cycling connectivity

narrower lanes help reduce perceived road width, naturally slowing vehicles.

B. Upgrading the crossing on the A35 at Beaulieu Road

the current crossing in the middle of the road is hard for many people to use

a proposed zebra crossing would improve safety and link with potential cycle routes

requires further feasibility testing, including visibility considerations and vehicle turning movements.

Our evidence base shows:

around 50% of vehicles exceed the 30mph speed limit in Lyndhurst
the highest levels of speeding occur on roads forming part of the one way system
there have been 51 injury collisions in the parish over five years, with a cluster in the village centre
traffic volumes on the A35/A337 exceed 13,000 vehicles per day
the High Street is now as busy as it was before the pandemic, often attracting more than 70,000 visitors each week. But it is still hard for people to cross the road, and the pavements are narrow.
residents also regularly raise concerns about fast traffic at Goose Green, HGVs using the High Street, and how difficult it is to cross at key points.

The Healthy Streets approach ensures we design for people first, making Lyndhurst a place where residents, businesses and visitors feel safe, relaxed and able to enjoy the village without being overwhelmed by traffic.

Funding for the transport capital delivery schemes is separate from the County Council’s revenue budget and savings proposals. In the majority of cases funding comes from external grants and / or Section 106 contribution from developers. This funding usually has conditions that strictly control on how, where and when it can be spent.

Visit Causeway one.network which is where the planned works are published and is an independent platform that allows real-time monitoring of all the UK’s roadworks and diversions.

My Journey - travel information and travel advice choices in Hampshire.

Name Highways, Engineering and Transport
Email Engagement Feedback
Phone 0300 555 1388

Address
Universal Services
Hampshire County Council
The Castle
Winchester
SO23 8UD