Surface dressing is a preventative treatment, to prolong the life of the roads. It is an essential part of Dorset Council's road maintenance strategy, alongside patching and resurfacing.
Why we use surface dressing
Surface dressing:
- helps prevent potholes forming by providing a waterproof seal
- improves skid resistance, with a thin layer of new stone chippings spread on the finished surface
- is very cost effective; roads can be kept in good condition for longer, so that resources can be directed to fully resurface the roads that need it most. Full road resurfacing costs 12 times more per mile
A newly dressed road may feel 'bumpy' as the grip will have been restored. The surface will also be noisier initially while the chippings 'bed down'.
About the treatment
Surface dressing can only be carried out when the road is dry. When it rains, the work has to stop - changing dates across the whole programme of work.
It is a quick process - rural sites take less than a day to complete and urban roads will take 1 to 2 hours, depending on the length of the road.
Bitumen binder (glue) is sprayed onto the road, stone chippings are spread onto this and then compacted down with a roller. A sweeper then travels along the road the following day to clear any immediate loose chippings.
Surface dressing in action
Closing the road
We have a team of 20 people, two purpose built chipping spreaders, one spray tanker, six lorries feeding chippings and two suction road sweepers. This is a lot of equipment to fit into the road, even without traffic!
Doing the work in the daytime
We cannot work overnight as surface dressing relies on the evaporation of water from the bitumen binder (glue) for it to set, and it needs traffic to travel on the new surface for it to 'bed down' and lock onto the old surface.
We also cannot work in wet weather - any amount of rain or surface water dilutes the bitumen and so doesn't hold the chippings in place - which is why our surface dressing programme runs from April through to September. In rural areas we will be working 8am to 4pm and in urban areas we will be working 9am to 4pm.
Loose chippings
There may be loose chippings still on the road. It takes cars driving on the surface to help the stones bed into the bitumen.
This is why there will be 20mph limit after the work. Travelling at a reduced speed through the newly dressed area will prevent skidding on the loose chippings, it helps 'bed down' the material and it will save your paint work! We sweep the road the day after the work to get rid of excess stones.
How you can help it go smoothly
After surface dressing your road, we hope not to bother you again for another 10 years!
But there are a few things you can to do help us, and yourself:
- please move your car off the road before 9am
- please keep children and pets away – for safety and cleanliness
- please keep to the temporary speed limits and avoid heavy braking to allow the surface to stabilise and ‘bed down’
- check your shoes before entering your car or home
- remove stains promptly with a cleaner for removing bitumen/oil which can be purchased from any motoring store
Before work starts
- yellow advance warning signs will be put up on affected roads two days before the work is due to start – each week we will publish on our newsroom the roads being dressed the following week
- please ensure you either park your car off the road or, if you need it during the day, move it to a nearby road (but check this road isn’t also being treated)
- wet weather causes delay and will change our programme
On the day we will
- sweep the road to remove any loose material
- cover all drains and manholes covers
- dress the road surface
- reopen the road
Afterwards
- loose chippings will be swept up the day after the work
- uncover taped up drains and manhole covers
- white or yellow lines and disabled bays will be replaced within 14 days
You can find roadworks in your area on our roadworks map.
Surface dressing sites 2022
This work is carried out by Dorset Council highways service.
West area
Road Past Parsonage Farm, Dewlish
White Hill Lane, Tolpuddle
Wynd Close, West Stafford
Knighton Heath Barn Lane, West Stafford
Redbridge Lane, Crossways
Higher Came Farm Lane
Back Lane, Chetnole
C93, Chetnole
Ryme Road, Yetminster
Birch Lane, Yetminster
Church Street, Yetminster
Gordon's Lane, Lillington
Lenthay Road, Sherborne (2021 remedial)
Blackberry Lane, Sherborne
Holwell Road, Pulham
Spring Lane, near Duntish
Cat Lane, Buckland Newton
D40708 - A31 Marsh Bridge to Dairy House, Mapperton
South area
Coombe Valley Road, Weymouth
Bridlebank Way, Weymouth
Westhaven, Weymouth
Russell Avenue Weymouth
St. Leonards Road, Weymouth
Newberry Road, Weymouth
Williams Avenue, Weymouth
Fairview Road, Weymouth
Walker Crescent, Weymouth
Park Estate Road, Portland
Church Lane, Osmington
Water Meadow Lane, Wool
Between Three Acre Lane & A351 Langton Matravers
Between Crack Lane & A351 Kingston Road
Tabbits Hill Lane - from Sandy Hill Lane to Harmans Cross
D50207 - from Arne Road to Maranoa Farm, Arne
Morden Road, Sandford
Whitefield Road, Morden
Dullar Lane, Lytchett Matravers
Loop Farm Road, Lytchett Matravers
Between Eddy Green Lane and Peaton
Between Bartons Lane / Middle Road and Eddy Green Lane
Middle Road, Lytchett Matravers
Dillons Gardens, Lytchett Matravers
Dacombe Drive, Lytchett Minster
North area
B3081 - Solar Farm to county boundary
New Road, Madjeston
Hunger Hill, Madjeston
Belchalwell Street, Okeford Fizpaine
Calf Close Lane, Sturminster Newton
White Lane Close, Sturminster Newton
D31923 - From Copse Hill To Angers Lane, Broad Oak
Pentridge Lane, Bagber
The Cliff, Bryanston
Gorcombe Farm Road, Charlton Marshall
Clapcotts Farm Lane, Spetisbury
South Farm Road, Spetisbury
Church Lane, Anderson
Quar Close, Mappowder
Bullocks Lane, Stoke Wake
Kitford Lane, Ibberton
Marsh Lane, Ibberton
Stibles Lane, Ibberton
East area
Station Road, West Moors
Ringwood Road, Verwood
Culverhayes Road, Wimborne
D40513 - From B3078 To Hinton Mill Farm, Hinton Parva
D40602 - from B3078 to C24 Hell Corner, Chalbury Common
D40309 - from C103 Blacksmiths Shop to hairpin bend, Gussage St Michael
Castle Hill Lane, Cranborne
Winnards Close, West Parley
Corfe Mullen
Blacksmith Close
Ivor Road
Albert Road
Dalkeith Road
Insley Crescent
Rushcombe Way
Link Rise
Hilltop Road
Hanham Road
Cecil Close
Heather Close
Wayman Road
Brickyard Lane
Red Lane
Ashley Heath
Woolsbridge Road
Pine Manor Road
Grosvenor Close
Shelley Close
Bracken Close
Willow Close
Sylvan Close
Ivy Close
Craigside Road
Lions Wood
Laurel Lane
Heather Close
Malmesbury Road
Fir Tree Close
Hill Way
Monkworthy Drive
Ashley Drive West
Ashley Drive North
Ashley Drive South
Paddock Close
Struan Gardens
Ashley Park
Ferndown
Martins Drive
Wimborne Road East
Whincroft Drive
Woodside Road
Greenwood Avenue
Monkton Close
Victoria Gardens
Penrose Road
St.Marys Road
Larch Way
Willow Way
Robins Wood Drive
Beaufoys Avenue
Queens Road
Bunting Road
Prunus Drive
Laburnum Close
Aldridge Road
Lone Pine Way
Dane Drive
Lone Pine Drive
Blandford Road
Premium Surface Dressing
B3075 Morden Road, Sandford
B3081 Verwood Road
B3081 Gillingham
New Road & Hunger Hill, East Stour
B3092 Stour Provost
A30 West Stour
A30 Sherborne Road
A30 Crackmore
A3066 Mosterton and Broadwindsor