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£115m plan unveiled to improve Dorset’s roads and travel

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Highways workers resurfacing pathway

Dorset Council has unveiled a new plan that could see up to £115 million spent on local roads over the next four years. The aim is to make journeys safer, greener and more reliable for residents and visitors. This plan covers all parts of Dorset, with more projects planned as funding is confirmed.

The Highways Capital Programme Strategy explains how Dorset could benefit from government funding. This includes the Local Transport Grant, the Highways Maintenance Block, and a new national fund for bridges and other key structures.

Dorset Council already has £15.5 million confirmed for roads and cycleways for 2026 to 2030, with more long-term funding expected. Most of this money comes from the Department for Transport and other government sources – not from council tax.

If current funding continues, Dorset could receive £100 million for structural maintenance alone. This will allow a steady, long-term approach to managing the county’s road network.

Dorset Council is making its roads greener and stronger. We’re using smart technology and detailed road data to plan maintenance that lasts longer and creates less waste.

We’re also testing low-carbon and recycled materials to cut emissions. New road designs will help roads cope with hotter summers and heavier rain, saving money in the long run.

The strategy responds to feedback from Dorset’s latest Residents’ Survey, where 57% of people said improving road conditions was a top priority. It also supports the Dorset Council Plan, delivering on goals for climate action, inclusive communities and economic growth.

All projects will follow Dorset Council’s step-by-step approval process, with community consultation built in.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said:

“This plan is about delivering real improvements for Dorset’s communities. We’re preparing now so we can start quickly when funding is confirmed. Our approach is ambitious and responsible - balancing investment with sustainability and long-term planning.”

The Highways Capital Programme Strategy is due to be considered by Cabinet on 11 November.

Comments

2 Comments

Comment by posted
Dorset Council’s £115 million road strategy sounds impressive, but much of it sits on shaky financial ground. The headline figure assumes a steady stream of central government grants that have yet to be guaranteed beyond 2027. In reality, Whitehall funding for local transport is volatile, politically driven and often reallocated at short notice. Dorset may end up with little more than half the promised pot. While the council insists no extra cost will fall on taxpayers, large infrastructure projects always require local match-funding for design, staffing and contingencies. That could mean another £10–15 million quietly drawn from reserves or borrowing, hardly sustainable for a cash-strapped authority already wrestling with social-care pressures. Operationally, the county’s highways department is under-resourced. Delivering £30 million of works a year would demand extra engineers and contractors at a time when asphalt costs and wages remain inflated. Promises of “smart technology” and “low-carbon materials” may please residents and tick climate boxes, but those innovations cost more upfront and deliver savings only over decades. In truth, the plan feels more like a glossy funding bid than a locked-in investment programme. Without firm commitments from the Department for Transport, Dorset’s “greener, safer” roads risk staying firmly on paper.
Comment by posted
It's welcome news regarding the roads program. It would be helpful if there was a schedule available for residents, not only for specific projects, but also their feed back on their suggested sites. For example, the top of Springdale Road, passing the school on the left, as you come to the Roman Rd., the road is not only in a poor condition, but dangerous! Promised road signs still missing! (Highmoor Road from Albert road!) Also. roads just repaired, dug up again a few days later. I am sure that there would be a lot of comments from residents concerned about the roads in there area.