Somerset Council’s Highways team and contractor Kiely Bros are preparing to surface dress some roads as part of the spring/summer maintenance programme.
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 with bitumen, covering it with stone chippings and then rolling it.
The work can only be carried out in dry weather, so the Council’s surface dressing programme is flexible, and dates can change at short notice.
Most sites are completed within a single day or in just a couple of hours. Larger sites may take between one and three days.
In most cases, roads stay open and traffic is managed with stop/go boards. Some narrow locations may need a short, temporary road closure to keep everyone safe. There may also be brief spells when access to properties is not possible.
For the safety of the public and workforce, these works use short duration road closures. Pedestrian access will be unaffected, however there may be delays for vehicle access. ‘Business open as usual’ signs will be in place where necessary.
Those with specific access needs, are advised to speak to the team on site – they will usually be able to help.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, said:
Every summer we deliver this programme so that our network remains safe. Surface dressing is critically important in keeping our highways running efficiently.
Surface dressing is used on roads still in good condition to extend their life. It works much like repainting wooden windows – regular maintenance is essential.
This year’s key routes in the programme include:
Mendip area: A3098 Frome; A362, Frome; A37 Shepton Mallet-Gurney Slade; A371Wells-Shepton Mallet.
Sedgemoor area: A39 Nether Stowey; A39 Woolavington-Ashill; Love Lane, Burnham-on-Sea.
Yeovil and South Somerset area: A37 Dorchester Road – Closworth; A37 at East Coker, Barwick and Stoford, Chilthorne Domer and Byrmpton; A30 East Chinnock; A3088 Cartgate Link; A372 Huish Episcopi.
West Somerset: B3224 – various locations including Luxborough, Cutcombe, Brompton Regis and Tolland; A396 Exebridge.
Taunton area: Trenchard Way, Taunton; A38 Stonegallows.
More details on the affected routes will be publicised before works start – make sure to follow Travel Somerset on X and Facebook.
You can check which roads are being surface dressed. If you need to report an overgrown verge, pothole or more, you can do so online You can see dates of planned works via Somerset Council’s website.
