Dinah's Hollow January 2026
Published: 07 December 2025
Please find important information below about multiple Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders that are planned to come into effect on Monday 5 January 2026. These will support the slope stabilisation works in Dinah’s Hollow and manage additional traffic on the limited network of roads in north Dorset.
These will be in effect for the duration of construction works throughout 2026. The main road closure for the stabilisation works will close the C13 between its junction with Boundary Road and its junction with the B3081. There will be access only for residents and emergency services between Boundary Lane and West Lane. The main diversion route will be signed to use the A350. HGVs travelling southbound will be signed to use the A30 to Shaftesbury then on to Stalbridge and use the A357 to rejoin the A350 south of Steepleton Bends.
In Melbury Abbas village, additional measures will support the flow of traffic to enable residents safe travel to and from their homes:
Quarry Lane/School Lane one-way only from A350 to C13
White Pit Lane one-way only from C13 to the B3081
West Lane one-way only from C13 to the A350
Mill Hollow Lane one-way only from B3081to West Lane
West Lane will remain two-way between its junction with the A350 and its junction with Quarry Lane to facilitate the above restrictions
On the A350 there will be a series of temporary speed restrictions to support safe travel during the expected significant increase in vehicles using the route while Dinah’s Hollow is closed. Due to these exceptional circumstances, we recognise the need to operate outside our standard 20mph policy considerations and for village gateway speeds to be temporarily reduced:
Temporary 20mph speed limit on A350 through Compton Abbas
Temporary 20mph speed limit on A350 through Fontmell Magna
Temporary 20mph speed limit on A350 through Sutton Waldren
Temporary 20mph speed limit on A350 through Iwerne Minster
Temporary 30mph speed limit through Stepleton Bends
We are continuing discussions with our traffic management provider on proposals for two sets of temporary traffic signals on the A350 to further help the safe movement of vehicles and residents:
Two-way temporary signals in West Melbury due to sharp and narrow bend at Incombe Head
Three-way temporary signals near Clayesmore School to provide a pedestrian crossing and control traffic in/out of Higher Street/Tower Hill
We will confirm this arrangement when we know more. As part of the project, our traffic management provider will monitor these routes and ensure signage remains in place and visible. This will also allow us to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.