THE biggest resurfacing programme in at least four years continues across Somerset over the next two weeks, Somerset Council said.

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 one-day within the stated period and advanced notice will be given to communities and road users.

The programme coming up is: • Tuesday 27 August – A358 Taunton Road, Sampford Brett and Bicknoller. Including Flaxpool Hill, Crowcombe from 9:30 am to 3:30pm, starting Williton end and working towards Taunton. This is under stop/go working. From 7pm 11.30pm, A39 Quantock Road between Skimmerton Lane and Sandford Hill roundabout, under an evening closure.

• Wednesday 28 August 9.30am to 3.30pm – A38 Exeter Road, Sampford Arundel and Wellington Without, under stop/go working. This is from Perry Elm roundabout to the Devon border. From 7:00pm to 11.30pm - A39 New Road/ Main Road, Cannington between Sandford Hill roundabout and Cannington East roundabout, under evening closure.

• Thursday 29 August – Galmington Road, Comeytrowe 9am to 3.30pm, stop/go working. Overnight closure 7pm to 5am A38 Wellington Relief Road, Wellington from between Perry Elm roundabout and Oldway Road.

• Saturday 31 August - Honiton Road, Trull, A3027 Staplegrove Road and A358 Priorswood Road, Taunton done between 9.30am to 3.30pm under stop/go working.

• Sunday 1 September – closure for the B3224 Beulah Chapel to Robbery Gate, Brompton Regis and A38 Taunton Road, Thurloxton. Both between 9.30am and 3.30pm.The A38 will be under stop/go.

• Monday 2 September – A38 Bristol Road, Badgworth, Rooksbridge and East Brent 9.30am to 3.30pm under stop/go.

• Tuesday 3 September 9.30am to 3.30pm A370 Bridgwater / Weston Road, East Brent, Edingworth and Lympsham under stop/go.

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.