Landslip-Prone Dorset Road to Close for Year-Long Stabilisation Works

A section of road in Dorset that has been repeatedly affected by landslips will close for up to a year while major stabilisation works are carried out.

Construction on the C13 at Dinah’s Hollow, near Shaftesbury, is scheduled to begin on 5 January, with the route expected to remain closed for most of 2026. Dorset Council has previously warned that, without intervention, conditions at the site posed a serious safety risk, including the potential for a fatal accident.

The closure will apply to the stretch between Boundary Road and the B3081. However, access will be maintained for residents and emergency vehicles between Boundary Lane and West Lane.

The C13 serves as an important north–south link within Dorset and has suffered multiple landslips in recent years, some of which have completely blocked the carriageway. Concrete safety barriers are currently in place to reduce the risk of further collapse.

During the closure, a signed diversion will be routed along the A350. Southbound heavy goods vehicles will instead be directed via the A30 to Shaftesbury, then through Stalbridge and along the A357 to rejoin the A350 south of Steepleton Bends.

Additional traffic management measures will be introduced in nearby villages affected by the diversion routes, including temporary one-way systems and 20mph speed limits, to help manage traffic flow and minimise disruption.