THE main road between Chard and Crewkerne will close for eight weeks to allow highways teams to carry out urgent drainage works.

A full road closure will be required while the highways team installs 550 metres of drainage pipes and road gullies on the A30 Mangle Cave Hill from Monday, January 23.

The works, carried out north of Roundham between the junction of Liddon Hill and St Rayn Hill, will ensure the road is safer during wet weather.

Significant excavation must take place on the road, which will make it impassable for road users. The closure will also ensure the works site is safe for workers. 

A diversion route will be signposted via the A356, A303 and A358. The route can be viewed on the Travel Somerset website.

To minimise disruption, the council will mobilise two teams working simultaneously to reduce the duration of the works.

Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset County Council’s lead member for transport and digital, said: “We understand this is a really important route.

“We know it won’t be easy having access closed for this period of time, but this work has to be carried out to ensure the road drains properly and is safe for road users.

“There is never a good time to do this, but this is the best time available to us on balance and avoids clashing with any major holidays.”

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