Somerset Council has announced that repairs on a problematic stretch of the A30 will be carried out in early September. This section between East Chinnock and Haselbury Plucknett is a key route connecting Crewkerne and Yeovil.
In late May, resurfacing work was undertaken by the council and its highways contractor Kiely Brothers. However, a heatwave caused the bitumen-based binder known as ‘Kiely Lock’ to melt, leaving the repairs incomplete and creating hazardous driving conditions.
Councillor Oliver Patrick, representing the Coker division which includes both villages, informed residents in June that the hot weather had delayed further repair works, emphasising that the road surface “has to be a lot cooler for any repairs to work effectively.”
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Now, the council has confirmed that overnight resurfacing work will take place starting Tuesday, 1st September. These works aim to reduce disruption to motorists and residents by maintaining two-way traffic during the day and only closing the road overnight. The repairs are expected to finish before the end of the week.
This stretch of the A30 had been surface dressed in 2025 but could not have the ‘Kiely Lock’ binder applied due to weather conditions, and further surface dressing was carried out in May 2026 after deterioration was reported. During the May heatwave, local temperatures reached nearly 33°C with road surface temperatures significantly higher, causing the binder to soften and rise through the surface dressing before completion.
The council’s highways officers noted that the bends along this part of the A30 place greater stress on the carriageway compared to straighter roads. For example, repairs on the A37 Dorchester Road near Yeovil were completed without issue before the May heatwave.
Councillor Patrick recently shared an update on his official Facebook page, mentioning that many residents had raised concerns about the slippery road surface following the surface dressing works. He said, “The exceptionally hot weather this summer has caused problems with the road surface, resulting in a loss of texture in some sections.”
To mitigate the problem until permanent repairs can be made, the council has applied dusting material to improve grip and installed additional warning signs for drivers.
Importantly, the council confirmed that Kiely Brothers will cover the costs of these additional repairs, ensuring that local taxpayers are not burdened. Councillor Patrick expressed gratitude for residents' patience and promised to keep them informed as the works proceed.
In April, Somerset Council also published a list of roads scheduled for surface dressing in 2026, which includes another section of the A30 between Crewkerne and Chard.