The biggest resurfacing programme in at least 4 years continues across Somerset over the next 2 weeks.
Somerset Council’s road surface treatment specialists Kiely Bros are undertaking work that will see 1,000,000 sqm of road surface dressed, equivalent to 141 football pitches. The treatment is a greener and more cost-effective form of maintenance, helping to improve the road network whilst emitting significantly less carbon compared to alternative solutions.
The busy surface dressing programme is being done under short-term road closures or under stop-go signs depending on location. The road will only be closed for 1 day within the stated period and advanced notice will be given to communities and road users.
Upcoming programme
Tuesday, 27 August:
- A358 Taunton Road, Sampford Brett and Bicknoller, including Flaxpool Hill, Crowcombe under stop/go working starting Williton end and working towards Taunton from 9:30am to 3:30pm
- A39 Quantock Road between Skimmerton Lane and Sandford Hill roundabout under an evening closure from 7pm to 11.30pm
Wednesday, 28 August:
- A38 Exeter Road, Sampford Arundel and Wellington Without under stop/go working between Perry Elm roundabout to the Devon border from 9.30am to 3.30pm
- A39 New Road/Main Road, Cannington between Sandford Hill roundabout and Cannington East roundabout, under evening closure from 7pm to 11.30pm
Thursday, 29 August:
- Galmington Road, Comeytrowe under stop/go working from 9am to 3.30pm
- A38 Wellington Relief Road, Wellington between Perry Elm roundabout and Oldway Road, closed overnight between 7pm and 5am
Saturday, 31 August:
- Honiton Road, Trull, A3027 Staplegrove Road and A358 Priorswood Road, Taunton under stop/go working, between 9.30am and 3.30pm
Sunday, 1 September:
- B3224 Beulah Chapel to Robbery Gate, closed between 9.30am and 3.30pm
- Brompton Regis and A38 Taunton Road, Thurloxton, under stop/go from 9.30am to 3.30pm
Monday, 2 September:
- A38 Bristol Road, Badgworth, Rooksbridge and East Brent, under stop/go from 9.30am to 3.30pm
Tuesday, 3 September:
- A370 Bridgwater/Weston Road, East Brent, Edingworth and Lympsham, under stop/go from 9.30am to 3.30pm
Surface dressing is a nationally recognised maintenance technique for sealing a road, improving skid resistance, and preventing water getting under the surface. This is crucial to help stop potholes forming.
It works by coating an existing road surface with bitumen, covering it with stone chippings and then rolling it. It can only be carried out in dry weather, so the programme is flexible, and dates can change at short notice.
In some cases, a secondary treatment ‘Kiely Lock’ is applied a couple of weeks later. It is designed to further lock in loose chippings on the road surface and give the dressing the best life span.
Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Highways and Digital, Councillor Richard Wilkins, said:
This programme underlines our commitment to major investment in our roads and infrastructure to keep the county running.
Surface dressing and surface treatments are critically important when it comes to prolonging the life of our roads and preventing the need for more invasive and costly intervention and reducing the likelihood of potholes forming.
As well as surface dressing the team from Kiely will be carrying out footway crack sealing, preparatory drainage, patching and cleaning, as well as post surfacing road markings, studs and high friction surfacing.
For more information and to see an interactive map, visit the Council’s Surface Dressing page.
During the spring and early summer, you may have seen an innovative new vehicle out and about, the Multipatcher. You can find out more about the Multipatcher by watching the following video:
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If you spot a problem on the road you can report it quickly and easily via the Council’s Report a problem on the road webpage.
