Too hot for crumbling A38 (From Somerset County Gazette)

Too hot for crumbling A38

7:00am Saturday 1st September 2012 in News By Michael Marsh

Too hot for crumbling A38

MOTORISTS could face problems on the A38 connecting Taunton and Wellington because part of it needs to be resurfaced for the second time in a year.

A section of the busy commuter route between the Blackbird Inn and Blackdown Garden Centre has also been given a recommended speed limit of 30mph because the road has broken up.

The surface was only patched up last year but Somerset County Council says the heat could have forced it to crumble.

The authority said it could not say how much it cost to re-lay the road last summer, nor how much upcoming works would cost.

Phil Anderson, landlord at the Blackbird Inn, said he’s seen highways staff working to fix the road.

He told the County Gazette: “The road looks like it’s been breaking up with the heat. The council has been out there putting down what looks like grit to stop the problem.

“It was only re-surfaced last August.”

Although some drivers will have the option of taking the motorway to travel between the two towns, for many travelling to Rumwell, West Buckland, Oake, Bradford-on-Tone and other places in between the A38 is the quickest and most popular way.

Somerset County Council says it has identified a problem with the road and is looking at potential solutions to aid motorists but didn’t put a timescale on the repairs.

A spokesman said this week: “This stretch of road was surfaced dressed last summer.

“However, the dressing, which is bitumen with chippings on top, can be affected by the heat and this is one of the factors we are looking in to.

“There is a problem with the surface on this particular stretch and the council is working with its highway contractor to identify a suitable permanent solution.

“In the meantime, we have put up advisory speed limits of 30mph to encourage drivers to slow down and take care on this stretch of road. Our commitment, is to maintaining the safety of our highways and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”