EMERGENCY repairs on a damaged embankment will close the main A358 road link between Taunton and Minehead for two weeks starting today (Monday, January 25), Somerset County Council’s Highways announced yesterday.

The shock 24-7 closure of one of Somerset’s key roads will cause major diversions until Friday, February 12.

A highways spokesman said: “We need to correct some severe erosion to the embankment running alongside the A358 near Combe Florey.

“An inspection established that the highway verge between the road and the embankment had collapsed into a stream close to the highway, and was already causing cracks in the road surface.

“The team will need to clear vegetation and trees near the stream which have caused it to flow into the embankment. The normal flow will need to be restored to stop the damage.

“Significant clearance of the area with an excavator is needed followed by the installation of wire cages containing rocks, known as gabion baskets, to secure the embankment.”

Cllr John Woodman, the county council’s cabinet member for highways said: “Our teams needed to act quickly to deal with this potentially hazardous situation.

“This is one of the county’s main arterial routes and we appreciate the work is going to cause some delays. But the safety of road-users is paramount. For the next two weeks we’d encourage motorists to plan ahead.”

For diversion information, visit www.travelsomerset.co.uk/roadworks/