Dorset Way maintenance programme will help keep one of Poole's busiest roads in good condition

Drivers are being advised of upcoming road maintenance works on Dorset Way that are designed to help prevent potholes and keep one of Poole's busiest routes in good condition for years to come.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council will be carrying out a £500,000 maintenance project covering 8.5km of carriageway on the A3049 Dorset Way between Holes Bay North roundabout and Mannings Heath roundabout throughout the period of 25 July to 21 September 2026.

The work will include repairs to sections of road surface followed by a treatment known as surface dressing, which helps protect roads from weather damage and wear and tear before potholes develop.

By carrying out maintenance at the right time, roads can last significantly longer before more extensive repairs or full resurfacing are needed.

The work has been carefully planned to be delivered in three separate phases to minimise disruption, with preparation works taking place overnight and key phases scheduled over weekends. No works are planned during the day once the summer holiday period begins.

Road and lane closures will take place across the following dates:

Phase one, patch repairs, July night works:

• Full road closures from 9pm to 6am between 25 and 31 July on the A3049 Dorset Way
• Saturday 25 to Monday 27 July - Eastbound Holes Bay Roundabout to Tower Park Roundabout
• Monday 27 to Wednesday 29 July - Westbound Tower Park Roundabout to Holes Bay Roundabout
• Wednesday 29 to Thursday 30 July - Southbound Mannings Heath Roundabout to Tower Park Roundabout
• Friday 30 to Saturday 31 July - Northbound Tower Park Roundabout to Mannings Heath Roundabout

 
Phase two, surface dressing, September day works:

• Full road and lane closures between Saturday 5 and Sunday 13 September on the A3049 Dorset Way
• Full road closure Saturday 5 September, between 8am and 6pm -eastbound AM and westbound PM Holes Bay Roundabout to Tower Park Roundabout
• Full road closure Sunday 6 September, between 8am and 6pm -southbound AM and northbound PM Mannings Heath Roundabout to Tower Park Roundabout.
• Lane closures and 20mph speed limit Monday 7 to Thursday 10 September, between 9.30am and 4pm
• Lane closures and 20mph speed limit Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September between 8am and 6pm
• A temporary 20mph speed limit will be in place while the new surface embeds.

 
Phase three, road marking replacement, September night works:

• Full road and lane closures Tuesday 15 and Monday 21 September on the A3049 Dorset Way, between 9pm to 6am
• A temporary 20mph speed limit will be in place while the road markings are replaced and lifted once sections are complete.

The three roundabouts within the scheme area - Holes Bay North, Tower Park and Mannings Heath - will not be included in the surface dressing programme.

Surface dressing is one of a range of preventative maintenance treatments used on roads across the country. It helps seal the road surface, improves grip and protects against water getting into the carriageway, which is one of the main causes of potholes.

The Department for Transport expects councils to use preventative maintenance techniques such as surface dressing as part of a long-term approach to managing road networks and securing future maintenance funding. The treatment is widely used across the UK and helps councils make the best use of limited budgets by extending the life of roads before more costly repairs become necessary.

Councillor Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder responsible for Highways Maintenance at BCP Council, said:

“While no one enjoys the disruption from roadworks, and this scheme will be noticeable because Dorset Way is such a busy route, this investment is about avoiding much bigger problems in the future. Without this preventative maintenance, Dorset Way would eventually require major resurfacing costing around £4.5 million, causing greater disruption. Over that time, further deterioration will occur and could lead to more costs to undertake structural repairs. By carrying out maintenance now, we can help prevent potholes from forming and reduce the need for more extensive and disruptive repairs later on.

"We've worked hard to minimise disruption by scheduling works overnight and at weekends wherever possible, and we'd like to thank people in advance for their patience while these essential works take place."