A350 in Dorset to Close for a Month, Requiring 30-Mile Diversion

A significant road closure, lasting one month and necessitating a 30-mile (48km) diversion for motorists, is scheduled to address urgent gas leaks. Gas company SGN is set to commence operations to replace a primary pipe on the A350 in Dorset, starting on 18 November. Vehicle traffic will be unable to pass through in either direction on this section of the road beyond Sturminster Marshall, with the closure remaining in effect until 16 December. SGN issued an apology for the disruption this will cause and confirmed that a clearly marked diversion route will be established. The company explained that the extensive nature of the engineering task, involving the gas main traversing the road’s center and the necessity for heavy equipment on location, dictates this measure. Specifically, the A350 will be inaccessible from the A31 at the Roundhouse Roundabout up to the northern side of the crossroads where Dullar Lane and Station Road meet. SGN assured that local bus services will continue to operate, and both pedestrian and cyclist access will be preserved. The company stated that these upgrades are intended to diminish the likelihood of future gas leaks.