Dorset Highways maintenance gangs are out across the county continuing to repair road damage and maintain vital infrastructure.
To allow this work to take place safely, the area of the road being worked on will be closed. Daytime road closures are 9am to 4pm and night work is usually from 7pm to 6am.
In March we will be repairing sections along the following roads:
March sites
West Moors Road, Ferndown – 1 March to 5 March
road closed overnight 7pm to 6am
Ringwood Road (Southbound), Ferndown – 5 March to 13 March
road closed overnight 7pm to 6am
New Road, Gillingham – 8 March to 17 March
road closed for drainage works, no access
New Road, Gillingham – 18 & 19 March
night closure for resurfacing, 7pm to 6am each day
Roundhill Coppice, Loscombe – 18 March to 24 March – POSTPONED
A338 Bournemouth Spur Road annual maintenance – 24 March to 26 March
road closed 7pm to 7am between A31 Ashley Heath & Blackwater junction
litter picking, road sweeping & gully clearing
A357, Shillingtone – 25 March to 30 March
road closed 9am to 4pm
St Katherines Drive, Bridport – 31 March to 1 April
road closed 9am to 4pm
We will do our best to keep you updated if our schedule of work changes. The latest information on all planned road works can be found online.
Additional safety measures
Additional safety measures are being taken to ensure the health and safety of workers in these unprecedented times. We are also working closely with other highway authorities across the south west and with industry bodies to share knowledge of new ways of working.
- single person vehicle movements both to and from site
- maintaining current social distancing requirements at all times
- daily toolbox talks to share the latest safe working guidance and COVID-19 updates
- daily health screening involving temperature checks and general well-being
- no high-risk workers on site
- revised working practices to reduce the number of staff on site while still maintaining health and safety standards when working on the highway
- changes to site welfare, including additional toilet facilities and hygiene provision
Please be mindful of how you speak to our workforce, they are working within the Government’s guidance for construction activity – that it should continue where it fits with both the current Public Health England requirements and in accordance with industry safety guidance.
What is the diversion route for people needing to go to Sherborne from Gillingham when New road is closed from 8th to 17th March?
Hi Bernard, there will be a signed diversion route for drivers (via Shaftesbury), or drivers can choose another alternative route suitable to their vehicle.
The A31 from Canford Bottom to the Ferndown police station roundabout is in a shocking state from litter. Why was the gorse removed? It’s now barren and inhospitable exposing the tremendous amount of litter. If this is a Highways England issue please apply some pressure for a clean up – and no more gorse removal!
Hi Andrew, yes – the removal of bushes, shrubs and long grass reveals the full extent of littering by drivers and verges quickly become a scruffy eyesore because of it.
We’re currently organising overnight litter picking on the A31 from River Stour to the county boundary for April.
Verges are routinely cut back to maintain good sight lines for drivers.
Thank you for your email very grateful for the news you provide. Is there any chance that Westwood Avenue .Ferndown will have work done this year as the surface is in a dreadful condition. St. Leonards hospital staff all done a fantastic job from car parking down to nurses, well done Dorset a first class job on vacines.
Hi Mr & Mrs AR Harvey, thank you for your comments. With regards to the condition of Westwood Avenue the best thing is to report the damage using our online form: https://dorset-self.achieveservice.com/service/Report-a-pothole This will be passed on to our community highway officer who will assess it for any immediate repairs, and recommend it for any further surface treatment if necessary.
Thank you for the info. folks. Keep safe.
I had an idea, but it may not be appropriate for this part of the site. When your gangs encounter fly tipped rubbish on the pavements and bus stops, as they are passing by in their vans, couldn’t they take a photo of it, and then pick it up for disposal, rather than leave it there to fly everywhere in the wind for days making more mess. If they are going to have to go pick it up anyway it might save time and make more sense. Perhaps they could be given an incentive to do this, like a bonus?