Next week, 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, told KeeP 106: “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
