This month, Dorset Highways will start carrying out premium surface dressing on large sections of ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads, protecting them from water damage and keeping them in a good condition for longer.
Many of these roads have already had patching work completed on them over the last 12 months – repairing any structural defects – in preparation for this work to extend the life and quality of Dorset’s roads.
Work will be carried out between 9.30am and 3.30pm under convoy working, where a vehicle – travelling at 10mph – will lead drivers through the works area. There will be no on street parking available during the work.
Drivers are being advised to allow extra time for their journey or find an alternative route, as the convoy working will slow traffic down considerably.
Jack Wiltshire, Dorset Council Head of Highways, said: “After the work has finished an advisory 20mph speed limit will be in place while the stone chippings are further bedded-in by vehicles travelling over the surface. Our sweeper crew will remove any surplus chippings 48 hours later.
“Please drive slowly over the new surface and leave increased space between vehicles – the low speed limit is in place for the safety of road users.
“Surface dressing forms a vital part of our annual road maintenance programme, alongside micro-surfacing, in-situ recycling and resurfacing treatments. Using this variety of treatments means more of our roads get repaired with the budget available, compared to using resurfacing alone.”
This year’s sites will form a rolling programme that is weather dependent, with yellow advance notice boards put in place on site two days in advance to confirm dates of the work and ensure no roadside parking in the area for the period of work.
Sites scheduled for treatment
28 & 29 June
A352, Middlemarsh – parish boundary north of Tall Trees Farm, Longburton to Middlemarsh
29 & 30 June
Ottery Lane & Horsecastles, Sherborne
30 June to 2 July
Bristol Road, Sherborne
5 July
A350, Blandford – A357 to Whitecliff Mill Hill
6 & 7 July
A354 – Pimperne to Tarrant Hinton
7 & 8 July
B3081, Cranborne – Handley Hill Roundabout to Creech Hill Farm
9 July
B3081, Verwood – Sutton Hill Camp Site to Remedy Gate
9 & 12 July
Ringwood Road, Verwood – Merryfield Close Roundabout to Lake Road
12 July
Ringwood Road, Verwood – Lake Road to county boundary
13 July
B3081, Verwood Road – Hampshire boundary to A31 on-slip
14 July
Wimborne Road, Corfe Mullen
14 & 15 July
Old Wareham Road, Corfe Mullen – A350 Blandford Road North to Springdale Road Roundabout
15 & 18 July
Morden Road – Sherford Bridge to A351 Sandford Road Roundabout
19 July
Dorchester Road, Wool – Burton Cross Roundabout to Jct Baileys Drove
19 & 20 July
Main Road, Osmington – west of White Horse Chalet to Jct C42 Mills Road
Resurfacing work is also continuing across the county.
Can I ask of when a suitable repair to the B3351 between the viewpoint and Purbeck Golf Club will be completed. As I’m sure you’re aware it has been patched many times over the years but poorly done due to bad weather either side of the repair. The undulation in the road is dangerous, and with this summer approaching I fear we’ll see more accidents around this area.
I’ll look forwards to receiving a reply.
Hi Brady, our highway engineers are in the process of designing the repair for this section of road and it’s currently scheduled to be constructed this financial year. Looking at the current works programme, and taking our summer works embargo into account, we’ll most likely be on site early 2022.
why did you not include Aug 30- Sept 8 Shaftesbury Royal chase roundabout? Is it because there are contaminants on the roundabout? Please can you expand on the exact contaminants for residents to be made aware because north dorset register states there are no contaminated lands in north dorset!!! I have saved screenshot and it is dated in case you rush to amend
Hi Deana, the Royal Chase Roundabout works aren’t on this list because this is a list of Surface Dressing sites. The roundabout is being resurfaced and was included on the August list of resurfacing here: https://news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/2021/07/21/urban-resurfacing-august-2021/ The September sites were also added to our Dorset Council Facebook page.
The ‘contaminent’ to which you refer is in the old road surface. Tar-bound products were identified from our core analysis during the engineering design work, with layer milling used during the resurfacing operation to manage this risk. It is not uncommon to find tar within older road constructions.
When will work be carried out on the B3390 between Moreton Station “level” crossing and the 5-ways junction at Redbridge Road/Dick o the Banks, Crossways?
The road surface is pitted and potholed from extensive traffic use, in particular, the gravel lorries and old roadworks which have now sunk. The surface is dangerous for cycles and motorcycles and the amount of debris on the road and in the gutter now inconveniences the public on the footpath, which itself is very narrow due to a lack of cleaning and maintenance.
Hi Peter, the best thing is to report the road condition using our online form: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/roads-highways-maintenance/report-a-problem-on-the-road-or-pavement.aspx This will be passed on to the local community highway officer who will assess it for any ‘actionable defects’ that need repair, and recommend it for any further action if necessary.
The main road through Corfe Mullen is “Wareham Road” not “Old Wareham Road” which is near Tower Park in Poole.
Hi James, the section of road we’re working on is Old Wareham Road at the junction of the A350, which then turns into Wareham Road as you pass Beacon Hill Lane.
Hello! A strange sign has appeared on each side of the old bridge at the northern entrance to Briantspuddle (an unclassified road so far as I know), saying the road will be closed from 29 June for 6 weeks. Last time this sign appeared – a few weeks ago – nothing happened, and it was eventually taken away! May we know if we’re really going to be cut off from access to the A35 for 6 weeks please?
Hi Henry, sorry for the confusion, maintenance work should have started on site yesterday.
Why does West St in Chickerell which is a rat run between East St and the b3157 have no traffic control in a road which has no pavements, social housing at the top end of the street ( which means children) and a pre school at the bottom. The new developments which are a lot quieter have both pavements and speed limits, Why are the residents of this street treated differently. This street needs to be made safer.
Hi Derek, the best thing is to report your concerns using our online form: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/roads-highways-maintenance/report-a-problem-on-the-road-or-pavement.aspx This will then be passed to the appropriate team for investigation.
A request for a change in the speed limit will need to come from Chickerell Town Council, you can find out more about our speed limit policy here: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/roads-highways-maintenance/traffic-management/our-approach-to-setting-speed-limits.aspx
What happened to repairs on Horton Road between St Ives Wood and Ashley Heath roundabout the contractors turn up for two hours first night then not again when no repairs were carried out.
Hi Denis, we carried out night work on this section at the start of June. This texture-blasting treatment restores skid resistance but you won’t necessarily see a visual difference to the surface.
When will you be carrying out the resurfacing work in Carey Road, Wessex Oval and Walls View Road that was left undone 2 years ago pending planned utilities work when the surrounding roads were done?
Hi Colin, we’re aiming to tack these roads on to the end of this year’s surface dressing programme. If that’s not possible due to weather, they will be added into next summer’s programme of work.
Hi
I notice that a new road surface has been started on Lonnen Road, Colehill – when will this be completed as it has made it harder to pull out of the top of the road
Hi Christine, these patching works should now be finished I believe.
Roundabout A31/Ferndown-by-pass. There have already been several accidents at this location, signage for correct lane is on the road. With the volume of traffic at this point it is almost impossible to know that the inside lane is for traffic to continue towards Ferndown or turn right and for traffic in the outside lane to turn right only. I have seen many near misses at this junction and soon someone will be killed unless proper signs are erected at reasonable distance back allowing traffic to be in the correct lane.
Hi Peter, the A31 is managed by Highways England. You can report this issue to them online: https://report.highwaysengland.co.uk/
Can I ask again when Lynmoor Road, Weymouth, DT4 7TW will be repaired?
The road is in a shocking state and has been for many years.
Hi Roger, I can see that we are aware of the damage on Lynmoor Road and it has been recommended for a thin surface treatment, however it has not yet gone into the design phase for the repair so I can’t say when this is likely to happen.
A352 from Middlemarsh to Longburton. According to the Dorset council website this was to be resurfaced with a “Premium Dressing” – Not sure what they meant by premium but now there is a very long stretch of road covered in grey small stones most of which have already been redistributed by the speeding traffic into the verges and hitting our windows – our road flooding bunds installed by the authority have more or less been buried, the noise from the surface is horrendous . Must have cost the Dorset tax paying community a pretty penny which may well have been better spent ?! Oh dear!
Hi Mr Dorset Resident, our annual road maintenance programme includes patching, micro-surfacing, surface dressing, in-situ recycling, road preservation and resurfacing treatments. Using this variety of surface treatments ensures that more of Dorset Council’s roads get repaired with the budget available, compared to using resurfacing alone.
The stone chippings are further bedded-in by vehicles travelling over the surface at a low speed (there should be advisory 20mph signs in place). Our sweeper crew will be returning in a few days to remove any surplus chippings.
Hello again, once the sweepers have been and the “Dust” has settled will someone come and look at and re-instate our roadside bunds? They look very ineffective now and our past issues with flooding from the road are well documented. ? Also a surface water drain nearby looks to be in need of some attention also.
Thank you.
Hi Mr Dorset Resident, we carry out post-work inspections to pick up any issues and to ensure drain covers are raised, so our team should pick up any other finishing works required. I’ll forward your comment on to them so they can make a note to check the bunds.
Thank you for your assistance. If those inspections and any works are carried out as needed, that would be most appreciated.