Road preservation is an early life preventative treatment which stops water ingress and surface deterioration on roads that are still in a good condition.
As part of the life of a carriageway, the road surface will become oxidised with microcracking beginning to form and leading to an increase of minor surface imperfections.
Road Preservation is a low-cost early life intervention to seal micro-cracks and prevent water ingress from causing more severe damage.
Carrying out the work
Road preservation is a relatively quick process that requires dry weather.
On the day, the road is swept and is immediately followed by a specialist truck which sprays an asphalt liquid onto the road surface to seal micro-cracking and prevent water ingress from causing more pronounced damage – leading to potholes.
Once the treatment has set, traffic is allowed back onto the carriageway.
This treatment is usually used on higher speed roads and takes place within a road or lane closure. Due to the types of roads being treated, closures will be overnight wherever possible to minimise disruption on these busy routes.
How you can help
To minimise disruption, there are a few things you can do to help us.
Before work starts
- look out for yellow advance warning signs with specific times and dates of the road closure (information about the work will be sent directly to any properties with frontages in the works area)
On the day and during the work
- please move your car off the road before the road is closed
- please keep to signed diversion routes/paths
- please keep children and pets well away from the work – for safety and cleanliness
After the work
- the site will be cleared and cleaned
- the road will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so
Preservation sites 2023
In 2023, Dorset Council Highways’ contractor Velocity will be carrying out the work in the following places:
- A30 - Christy’s Lane, Shaftesbury between Ivy Cross Roundabout and Royal Chase Roundabout
- B3091 - Manston between Honeymead Lane and Rams Hill (in both directions)
- A357 - Landshire Lane junction to Stalbridge
- A352 - Middlemarsh between its junction with B3146 and its junction with C45
- A356 - Rampisham Down between its junction with Linnet Lane and its junction with Wraxall Road
- A3066 - Netherbury between its junction with Mapperton Lane and Southgate
- B3165 - Marshwood between its junction with Fishpond Bottom Road and its junction with Hawkmoor Hill
- A352 - North Street, Charminster between its junction with the A37 and its junction with Wanchard Lane
- West Bay Road - Bridport between Crown Roundabout and West Bay Road car park
- A352 - North Street, Charminster between its junction with the A37 and its junction with Wanchard Lane
- A353 - Preston Road, Weymouth between its junction with Chalbury Corner roundabout and its junction with the access to Seaview Holiday Park
- B3155 - Dorchester Road to Preston Road
- B3155 - Abbotsbury Road
- Westwey Road, Weymouth
- A351 - East Street, Corfe Castle between B3069 Kingston Hill Street and B3351 Studland Road (in both directions)
- A35 - Upton Bypass, Upton between Poole Road slip road and Bakers Arms Roundabout (Westbound)
- A338 - Spur Road, St Leonards & St Ives (southbound) from Ashley Heath Roundabout for approximately 6000 metres to the south
- B3072 - Home Farm Road, Verwood between Fire Station Roundabout and St Michaels Roundabout
- A354 - Salisbury Road, Pimperne between Yarde Lane to approximately 900 metres to the east