To carry out Dinah’s Hollow slope stabilisation works safely, the main road (C13) will be closed for most of 2026.
Additional traffic management measures will support the main road closure and manage the increase of traffic on the limited network of roads in north Dorset.
The closure and related traffic measures will start on Monday 5 January 2026 and will remain in place for the duration of the works.
Road closures:
- C13 closed between Boundary Road and the B3081
- access only for residents and emergency services between Boundary Lane and West Lane
Diversion routes:
- main diversion: A350
- HGVs southbound: A30 from Shaftesbury to Henstridge, then join the A357 from Henstridge towards Stalbridge and rejoin the A350 at Durweston Bridge, south of Stourpaine
Melbury Abbas restrictions
Additional measures will support the flow of traffic to enable residents safe travel to and from their homes:
- Quarry Lane/School Lane one-way from A350 to C13
- White Pit Lane one-way from C13 to the B3081
- West Lane one-way from C13 to the A350
- Mill Hollow Lane one-way from B3081 to Redmans Lane (Redmans Lane stays two-way)
- West Lane stays two-way between A350 and Quarry Lane
Dinah's Hollow road closures and diversions.
Gritting
As there is currently much less traffic passing through Melbury Abbas, Dorset Council will reduce how often the C13 between the village and the top of Spread Eagle Hill is salted.
We will still grit this route if we experience a particularly cold snap or snow. While the road closure is in place, we will treat this section as a Community Link. Exact details of when Community Links are salted can be found online on our gritting pages.
No additional treatment for any of the other roads around Melbury Abbas is planned. With the reduced amount of gritting on Spread Eagle Hill, we ask that people take extra care when using this route.
Temporary speed limits on A350
On the A350 there will be a series of temporary speed restrictions to support safe travel during the expected significant increase in vehicles using the route while Dinah’s Hollow is closed.
Due to these exceptional circumstances, we recognise the need to operate outside our standard 20mph policy considerations and for village gateway speeds to be temporarily reduced:
- temporary 20mph speed limit on A350 through Compton Abbas
- temporary 20mph speed limit on A350 through Fontmell Magna
- temporary 20mph speed limit on A350 through Sutton Waldren
- temporary 20mph speed limit on A350 through Iwerne Minster
- temporary 30mph speed limit through Stepleton Bends
Dinah's Hollow - A350 temporary speed limits.
From Monday 9 March, additional temporary 20mph restrictions will be in place on some side roads leading up to the A350. This will allow us to move temporary signs further back and improve visibility at junctions.
Traffic signals
Two sets of temporary traffic lights are in place on the A350 to support the increased traffic volume on the A350.
Traffic lights at Iwerne Minster have been installed to help manage the existing permanent ‘priority’ traffic management system; if left with no temporary traffic management, the possibility of traffic on A350 northbound having limited opportunities to pass would increase tailbacks through the village. The temporary signals are to help allow a more equal traffic flow.
Two-way lights in West Melbury are in place because of the increased likelihood of HGVs meeting each other at this pinch point and getting stuck.
We are continuing to monitor and review all the temporary measures in place to support traffic flows while Dinah’s Hollow is closed for stabilisation works.