From Monday 18 November to Monday 16 December, we will begin work to replace the gas main on the A350 at the crossroad junction with Station Road/Dullar Lane.
This work is urgent to address leaks on the gas main. By replacing the gas main we’ll be able to reduce the risk of future leaks in this location.
Due to the complexity of the engineering work required, the gas main crossing the centre of the road and the need to use large machinery, it will be necessary to temporarily close the road. This closure will mean no through vehicle access in either direction on the A350 past Sturminster Marshall – pedestrian and cycle access will be maintained.
The A350 will be closed from the A31 at the Roundhouse Roundabout to the north side of the crossroad junction with Dullar Lane/Station Road. Signed diversion routes will be in place as shown on the map below.
Important information
Buses – Bus routes along the A350 will be maintained – the team will ensure buses can access through the closure heading both north and south. We would still advise passengers to contact their provider in case of any changes to services/timetables.
Residents and business vehicle access to Sturminster Marshall, Station Road and Dullar Lane will be maintained from the south via A31/Roundhouse Roundabout. Access to properties on the north side of the A350 closure will need to be via the diverted/alternative route.
Gatekeepers will be manning vehicle access to ensure through vehicle traffic is appropriately redirected to the official diversion route.
Bin collection – there are no planned changes to the bin collection days unless you are advised otherwise by your provider.
We appreciate these works will be disruptive for the local community and understand you may have questions – we hope the Q&A below will help.
We're sorry for any inconvenience these urgent works may cause and we'll be doing all we can to minimise this where possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
The gas main is a medium pressure gas main responsible for providing gas to a very large area of Dorset. We were unable to severe this gas pipe during colder months (January/February/March) when demand is significant as there is a risk for loss of supply. The gas pipes run across the road; we are unable to replace the main without a full road closure.
Replacing this section of gas main will provide a permanent solution to address leakage.
We have looked at all options but due to the location of the pipe in the centre of the road, there are no safe options other than temporarily closing the road.
The engineering work involved is challenging and putting more teams on will not increase productivity due to the complexity of the work involved. Our engineers will be working as quickly and safely as possible to complete these works without delay.
Our engineers may not always be visible in the excavation but are still working. There are activities that require engineers to leave site: they may be testing local pressures, carrying out connections wider afield that impact the network, carrying out safety briefings, in their vans completing mandatory HSE reporting on tablets.
Working 24 hours is not possible as we are working on a live gas supply. We are also governed by mandatory fatigue working hours.
We will make sure emergency services are fully aware of the road closure and the planned diversion route. They will make sure their response teams are allocated from the quickest route. We will make sure access is available within the closure and will keep emergency services advised.
We’re here to keep you safe and warm all day, every day, whether we’re upgrading our network or repairing a gas leak. We offer a range of services to provide extra help for those who need it most, including:
- Our free locking cooker valve, which helps keep people with dementia safe in their own home
- Advice on how to protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning
- Connecting you to our gas network for free or for less through our Help to Heat scheme, if you’re struggling to afford keeping your home warm
- Registering you on your energy supplier’s Priority Services Register, so you’ll receive priority support in a gas emergency or power cut
If you, or anyone you know, could benefit from any of our free extra help services, please visit sgn.co.uk/extra-help or call our Careline on 0800 975 1818.