The finishing touches are being made to the completed sections of Ridgeway bridge. They include a dry stone wall effect, being carried out by a local company, that you can see as you drive over the Ridgeway Hill.
The Ridgeway bridge provides a safe crossing of the new road for cyclists, horse riders and walkers on the South West Coast Path, as well as safe access for local farmers to fields on either side of the road.
It also has a great view, as you can see in this photo.
A small viewing platform at the end of Broadmayne Road is being built by a local dry stone walling specialist.
The platform looks towards Maiden Castle and Dorchester, and is on the South West Coast Path near one of the Ridgeway round barrows, a Stone Age burial mound.
It is hoped that an information panel about the local area will be also be put at the platform.
The wall has a concrete core that provides the strength to hold up the viewing platform sides, but the outside is constructed like a dry stone wall.
It will provide a picturesque resting place for walkers and cyclists.
Work is continuing on the Ridgeway bridge. This photo shows some of the final topsoil placed on the eastern approach to the bridge.
This area and the sides of the bridge will be planted with trees and scrub, which is why the topsoil here is much thicker than the Ridgeway road cuttings – which have a thinner layer of topsoil to suit wildflower establishment.
The western Ridgeway bridge approach can’t be completed until traffic is switched from the A354 onto the new relief road, this is because the bridge approach will be in what is now the main carriageway.
Pedestrians, cyclists and horses can still use the paths and bridleways in the area by going along the signposted South West Coast Path diversion, which is also the diversion for the Jubilee Trail.
This is one of the farm tracks, footpaths and bridleways being constructed at the moment across the scheme.
This farm track ensures access to fields around West Farm, and links to the footpath that joins the South West Coast Path to the Ridgeway bridge.
The grey gravel path in this image is the diversion of the South West Coast Path.
The coast path has been safely diverted away from the relief road works on Broadmayne Road. The path will eventually be realigned to go over the relief road on the Ridgeway bridge.
