£1.5 Million Shaftesbury Flyover Fix Tops Dorset Council’s Roads Agenda

Dorset Council plans to request government funding to repair Shaftesbury’s A30 bridge over New Road, as part of a multi-million-pound programme of road improvements going before Cabinet in Dorchester next week.

The flyover, opened in January 1973, carries the A30 over the B3081 between Shaftesbury and Gillingham. It was found to need new bearings and an expansion joint on its eastern side following refurbishment work two years ago. Dorset Council estimates the repair will cost £1.5 million.

Officers believe the scheme is ‘shovel-ready’ and hope that demonstrating their ability to deliver quickly will help secure Department for Transport backing. If ministers say no, councillors are expected to approve a backup option, allowing Dorset Council to release its own funds for the work.

The authority’s highways report describes the repairs as a top priority. A recent resident survey found that 57 per cent of Dorset ratepayers ranked road improvements as one of their highest concerns. Councillor Jon Andrews, the Cabinet member for highways, said the approach balances investment with sustainability.

‘It seems there’s money available for the right things,’ said Jon. ‘We’re using smart technology and AI to identify which roads need attention. I’m not sure if they’re using drones, but it’s pretty effective.’

He said Dorset is also cutting carbon in its resurfacing programme. ‘We’re using biogenic binders and low-carbon construction materials,’ he explained. ‘Sometimes we even recycle the tarmac in situ. The top layer goes through a machine and comes back out as usable road surface. It’s really good.’

Jon said Dorset’s climate-resilient materials are designed to withstand heavy rain and extreme heat, helping reduce cracking and potholes. ‘It won’t eliminate potholes completely, but we have a strong record of fixing them,’ he said. ‘If people report them, they get repaired quickly.’

He added that Dorset’s in-house highways department is key to maintaining standards. ‘We’re not reliant on subcontractors,’ he said. ‘We’ve got our own repair team who do a fantastic job.’

The A30 bridge repair is one of several projects Dorset Council hopes to fund through government grants. The authority says most of its highways spending will come from central government rather than the local ratepayer.