ROADS in West Somerset will be among a total of 140 miles of county roads to be surface-dressed between now and September in an effort to improve them for motorists and prevent potholes from forming.

Work may continue after this date in the event of bad weather. Some, such as Bircham Road in Alcombe, have already been done.

A total of 138 separate roads will be treated, with work being carried out by mobile teams to reduce the impact on motorists.

The council says surface dressing can increase the lifespan of a given road by up to ten years.

It works by coating the road with bitumen, covering it with stone chippings, rolling it to press the chips in and then sweeping the road to remove any debris.

The process seals the road to prevent water getting under the surface to form potholes, and also improves skid resistance for braking vehicles.

Cllr John Woodman, cabinet member for highways, said: “Surface dressing is one of our best weapons in the ongoing fight against potholes.

“The process is often misunderstood and dismissed as a cheap alternative to resurfacing.

“In fact, that is a myth – they are very different processes, much like painting wooden windows to stop them rotting, rather than simply replacing them.

“We use surface dressing on roads which are in relatively good condition, which is proven to ensure they last much longer before more costly and more disruptive resurfacing is required.”

Mobile teams mean large-scale road closures are not necessary.

But because the work cannot be carried out in wet or overly hot conditions, the dates for individual roads are subject to change.

Somerset County Council has produced a full list of every road which will be dressed between now and September. The list affecting West Somerset, Taunton Deane and Sedgemoor is in this week’s Free Press (July 19).