Dorset residents and motorists are being advised of upcoming overnight repair work on the Grade 2 Listed Durweston Bridge, a key thoroughfare on the A357 between Blandford Forum and Sherborne/Sturminster Newton.
The repairs are scheduled to commence on Monday, 26th June and conclude on Friday, 30th June, following damage caused by a recent road traffic collision.
To minimise disruption, the bridge will be closed nightly from 6.30pm until 6am. A signed diversion, conforming to national regulations, will be implemented during these hours, directing traffic onto the same classification of road as the temporarily closed section.
Dorset Council’s in-house team of specialist contractors will carry out the repair work, which will include the painstaking task of reinstalling stone knocked into the River Stour below by the collision. In a nod to the bridge’s historical significance, all existing bricks will be preserved and reused, following careful cleaning and restoration.
The Grade 2 Listed bridge spans the River Stour and forms the part of the busy route between Blandford and Sherborne/Sturminster Newton. Many heavy goods vehicles use this important road to make deliveries to businesses and residents, so our specialist team will be doing the work at night to minimise disruption. They will work to complete the work as quickly as possible and, in the meantime, I thank everyone for their patience.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment
In planning the repairs, the team worked closely with external organisations, including the Environment Agency and Historic England, to ensure the restoration work adheres to all necessary regulations and respects the bridge’s Grade 2 Listing.
The bridge over the River Stour at Durweston was built in 1795.
Motorists are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the diversion route and to factor in potential delays into their travel plans during this period. The council has thanked everyone for their patience and understanding as the vital repair work is carried out to preserve this important piece of Dorset’s historical infrastructure.
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