Somerset Council has confirmed when repairs will be carried out on a "liquefied" section of one of the county's main roads.
The council and its highways contractor Kiely Brothers carried out resurfacing work in late-May on the A30 between East Chinnock and Haselbury Plucknett - a vital section of the back road between Crewkerne and Yeovil.
The May heatwave caused the bitumen-based binder (known as 'Kiely Lock') to melt, preventing repairs from being completed and creating a hazard for motorists.
Councillor Oliver Patrick (whose Coker division includes both villages) informed his constituents in late-June that further repairs had been delayed by the then-heatwave, stating the road "has to be a lot cooler for any repairs to work".
Mr Patrick has now confirmed that the long-awaited repairs will be finally undertaken in early-September, with the work being carried out overnight to reduce disruption to residents and motorists.
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This stretch of road was surface dressed in 2025, but the weather prevented 'Kiely Lock' from being applied at the time - with further surface dressing taking place in May 2026 after "deterioration" had been reported.
During the late-May heatwave, local temperatures hit nearly 33 C - with the road temperature being considerably higher, causing the binder to "soften" and "rise through the surface dressing" before the work could be completed.
The council's highways officers told Mr Patrick that the bends on this section of the A30 "placed much greater stress on the carriageway than straighter roads" - with similar work on the A37 Dorchester Road near Yeovil being completed before the late-May heatwave without incident.
Mr Patrick - who recently announced his intention to contest the new Coker division at next year's local elections - posted an update on his official Facebook page on Monday evening (August 3).
He said: "As we all know, the exceptionally hot weather this summer has caused problems with the road surface, resulting in a loss of texture in some sections.
"In the meantime, the council has been carrying out mitigation measures, including applying dusting material to improve grip and installing additional warning signs for drivers.
"I'm pleased to report that Somerset Council and its contractor, Kiely Bros, have now agreed a permanent solution.
"The affected sections of the A30 will be fully resurfaced overnight from Tuesday, September 1, with the works expected to be completed before the end of the week.
"The good news is that the road will remain open to two-way traffic during the day, with the closures taking place overnight only."
Full details of these and other roadworks in your area can be found by visiting www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/roadworks-and-travel.
The council published a list in April of every Somerset road which will be subject to surface dressing this year, including a separate section of the A30 between Crewkerne and Chard.
Mr Patrick confirmed in late-June that Kiely Brothers would be footing the bill for the additional repairs to the A30, rather than local taxpayers.
He added in his most recent statement: "Thank you to everyone for your patience while a long-term solution was agreed. I'll continue to keep residents updated as the works progress."
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