Surface dressing is underway to repair suitable roads across Dorset as part of the annual programme of road maintenance work.
Dorset Highways’ surface dressing gang will be starting in the west of the county and will then travel to northern and eastern roads in need of repair, before ending the season near Dorchester.
Surface dressing prolongs the life of roads by providing a waterproof seal, while also improving skid resistance. It forms a vital part of Dorset Highways’ annual road maintenance programme, alongside patching, micro-surfacing, in-situ recycling, road preservation and resurfacing treatments.
Using a variety of surface treatments ensures that more of Dorset Council’s roads get repaired with the budget available, compared to using resurfacing alone.
The best treatment is selected based on the severity of damage and how deep the damage is, as well as considering how heavily trafficked the road is and the types of vehicles using it.
About the work
Our surface dressing gang is working 9am to 4pm in urban areas and 8am to 4pm in rural areas.
Surface dressing doesn’t take long and the road can be driven on as soon as it’s finished. Depending on the length of the road you live on, the road will be closed for around 1-2 hours while the treatment takes place.
There will be an advisory 20mph speed limit after the work while the loose stones ‘bed down’ into the bitumen. Travelling at this reduced speed will prevent skidding on the loose chippings, help ‘bed down’ the material and will save your paint work!
We sweep the road one to two days after the work to get rid of excess stones. White lining reinstatement will follow on from this and is generally a week or so later.
Dry weather & daytime only
We cannot work overnight as surface dressing relies on the evaporation of water from the bitumen binder (glue) for it to set, and it needs traffic to travel on the new surface for it to ‘bed down’ and lock onto the old surface.
We also cannot work in wet weather – any amount of rain or surface water dilutes the bitumen and so doesn’t hold the chippings in place – which is why our surface dressing programme runs from April through to September.
As this treatment is so weather dependent, dates are subject to change. Please look out for advance information boards, which will also be updated if there is any change in schedule.
Please use our online form to report road-related issues/damage. This goes directly to the local community highways officer for assessment.
Please remember you can check where we are working by using the online roadworks map.
April sites (starting 19 April)
Charminster – Jct C12 to end of road
Bradford Peverell Road – Jct A37 to Jct Poundbury Road
Tibbs Lane, Frampton – Jct A356 to end of road
Church Lane, Frampton
Kennel Lane, Cattistock – Jct C36 to end of road
Whiteway Cross, Cattistock – Jct Roman Road, near Two Gates, to Jct A35
Cotton Hoe Lane, Chilcombe – Jct A35, near Askerswell, to Jct C9, near West Mill Farm
Hoopers Lane, Puncknowle – Jct Look Lane to end of road
Clay Lane, Puncknowle – Jct High Street to Jct B3157
Mill Street, Burton Bradstock – Jct B3157 to Jct Church Street
Middle Street, Burton Bradstock – Jct C65 to Jct Church Street
Brook Street, Shipton Gorge – Jct C65 to Jct A35, Cuckolds Corner
Barr Lane, Shipton Gorge – Jct C65 To Jct Loders Lane
Merriott Hill, Nettlecombe – Jct C44 Merriott to Jct Smishops Lane
Manor Drive, Nettlecombe – Jct Merriott Hill to Jct Smishops Lane
Lee Lane, Bridport – Jct Caley Way to Jct A35
Long Lane, Bothenhampton – Jct Main Street to end of road
Magdalene Lane, Bridport – Jct B3162 to Jct Alexandra Road
Pine View, Bridport – Jct Alexandra Road to Jct Queen’s Road
Queen’s Road, Bridport – Jct Alexandra Road to Jct Queen’s Road
Alexandra Road, Bridport – Jct Pine View to Jct C91
Coronation Road, Bridport – Jct Alexandra Road to Jct Elizabeth Avenue
Howe’s Eype Lane – Jct C91 to end of road
Eype Down Road, Higher Eype – Jct A35 to Jct Howe’s Eype Lane
Ship Knapp, Morcombelake – A35 Eastern Jct to end of road
Holditch Lane – Jct C129, Headstock Cross, to Jct C129
Lower Holditch Farm Road – Jct C129, near Holditch, to Devon county boundary + Road to Solar Wadbrook Farm
Jct C129, near Broom, to Devon county boundary, Damas Lawn Bridge
Bilshay Lane, Salway Ash – Jct B3162, Dottery, to end of road
Ash Lane, Salway Ash – Jct Pineapple Lane to Jct C96, near Wooth
Twinways Lane, Melplash – Jct A3066 to Jct Mapperton Lane
Melplash – Jct Mapperton Lane to end of road by Coltleigh Hill
