Somerset Council, in partnership with road surface treatment specialists Kiely Bros, has announced a comprehensive programme of road repairs set to commence in villages near Shepton Mallet

Villages, including Croscombe, Doulting, and Evercreech, are set to undergo significant road improvements this summer as part of Somerset Council's surface dressing programme

Key roads include Burnthouse Drove near Shepton Mallet and Prestleigh Road in Evercreech.

Kiely Bros will introduce the "Multipatcher," a new piece of machinery, to the Somerset road network. The Multipatcher is designed for both small-scale surface dressing and efficient repair of various road defects using only a driver and a minimal traffic management team. This technology represents a significant advancement in road repair and maintenance efficiency.

Throughout April, the team completed 17,000 m^2 of pre-patching across the network to address visible defects such as potholes, cracks, and subsidence. This essential preparation prevents water penetration which can cause further deterioration, especially in freezing conditions.

The surface treatments programme, focusing primarily on surface dressing, is scheduled to start in July. This process involves sealing roads with bitumen and stone chippings to improve skid resistance and prevent water infiltration, crucial in preventing pothole formation.

Due to its dependency on dry weather, the surface dressing schedule will remain flexible, with potential changes at short notice, with this in mind, the exact dates for the works in Shepton Mallet have not yet been revealed.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's Lead Member for Highways and Digital, said: "We are delighted to welcome the Kiely Bros team on board. Surface dressing and surface treatments are critically important in keeping our highways running efficiently, and Kiely Bros have a fantastic record for innovation, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness."

In addition to surface dressing, Kiely Bros will conduct footway crack sealing, drainage preparations, patching, cleaning, and the application of post-surfacing road markings, studs, and high-friction surfacing to further enhance road safety and quality.

For comprehensive information on the planned roadworks, visit Somerset County Council.