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We use legislation and government guidelines to manage and co-ordinate roadworks.
Companies who can undertake work on the highway include (but are not limited to):
In most cases, organisations are required to apply in advance to do the works they need to undertake, particularly when they are digging in the road or if the works will affect pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Exceptions include unplanned, urgent activities which can commence without notice.
Works on private roads requires the prior consent of the land owner(s) and are not assessed by Dorset Council.
There is a national code of practice which anyone setting out or working at roadworks sites is expected to comply with, there is also legislation and guidance covering the traffic management arrangements.
You can expect roadworks sites to be safe - for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
Site managers must also pay particular attention to the needs of disabled people and should also consider other vulnerable groups such as elderly people, children and those with push chairs.
There should be clear instructions in the form of signing about exactly what is required of you to do to pass through the works site safely.
Dorset Council inspects roadworks sites to ensure compliance with a number of measures, but due to the number of works that take place it is only possible for us to inspect a sample. The majority of work takes place without issue.
If you believe there to be a problem at a site of roadworks, please tell us.
Dorset Council accommodates hundreds of essential activities every month. The reality is that the vast majority take place without issue. More commonly, work will cause local inconvenience to residents on a street, and less frequently works cause wider disruption and delays to a community or even thousands of road users.
Dorset Council needs to accommodate dozens of emergency and urgent activities every month, such as repairs to gas leaks, burst water mains, and dangerous potholes. Such activities come with little or no notice and do not need prior approval.
Construction noise and disruption to nearby residents and businesses is a consideration for works which happen at any time, but more so for works happening during the evening and hours of darkness.
Whilst works which are urgent and unplanned will proceed no matter the time, other times, works are planned to happen in the evening or night because on balance it has been decided that the impact on road users and traffic from traffic management measures could be lessened by having the work take place out of hours. Benefits are then realised to a great proportion of people because the traffic management can be removed and the road returned back to normal use in the day when most people are travelling.
Due to the nature of and demands on our network, it is inevitable that there will be disruption to road users and traffic sometimes.
Dorset Council operates a Permit Scheme - the Scheme ensures that works can be facilitated but in a more controlled manner. Permit schemes provide for better co-ordination of all works, and closer monitoring can drive behavioural change.
When Dorset Council is assessing applications for works, it's main considerations are ensuring safety at site for road users and workforce; as well as mitigating disruption by agreeing conditions on the works and traffic management as and when appropriate.
Compliance with conditions imposed on works are monitored and non-compliance can be subject to fines.
Dorset Council as Highway Authority does not notify individual households or businesses of forthcoming work when the activities are approved. Residents and businesses can follow current and planned roadworks and traffic restrictions on our roadworks map.
It is not a requirement for all works that residents, businesses and services be notified in advance; however the likely scale of disruption occurring from the works and any associated traffic management impact is likely to inform the need to provide notification.
It is the responsibility of the organisation carrying out the works to arrange notification. This might be directly by letter drop, placing of advance warning signs before works start or other means.
As a resident or business owner, you can reasonably expect to be notified if:
It is not reasonable to expect personal notification if works:
As road closures are the most disruptive form of traffic management, they are only requested and agreed when there are no other suitable alternatives. Often, roads are closed because they are not wide enough to facilitate the works whilst allowing traffic to pass safely at the same time.
Before, during and after road closures:
Should road closures not be operating in this matter, please contact us.