A spring resurfacing programme will start early next month to provide smoother and safer journeys for drivers on the A35 in Dorset.

The resurfacing work follows an extensive winter maintenance investment by National Highways to improve safety and the driving experience for motorists along both the A35 route and the A30 in Devon.

During a winter of freezing temperatures and heavy rain, the company's contractors Connect Roads have increased the inspection and monitoring programme for the route and carried out a number of surface treatments and repairs.

As part of that work, 22 lane miles of carriageway were resurfaced, retextured or patched, in addition to drainage checks and gully clearance and 357 tonnes of grit were applied on winter gritting runs across the A35 route.

Starting next week (March 6), six miles of the A35 and the adjoining A30 in Devon will be completely resurfaced during March to improve safety and provide smoother journeys for drivers.

On the A35, resurfacing and patch repair work, subject to weather conditions, will include the:

• Langford eastbound slip road (w/c March 13);
• Monkton Road westbound slip road (w/c March 13);
• Eastbound and westbound sections of the Charmouth to Morecombelake dual carriageway (w/c March 20);
• Chideock to Miles Cross (w/c March 20);
• Shipton Gorge to Vinney Cross (w/c March 27);
• Martinstown to Monkey's Jump roundabout (w/c March 27).

On the A30, resurfacing and patching work will also be carried out from next week at the Moor Lane roundabout, Fairmile overbridge to Pattersons Cross, Hayne Layne to the Railway underbridge and the eastbound carriageway of the Turks Head junction.

The carriageway resurfacing will take place largely under overnight closures to minimise disruption, and clearly signed diversion routes will be in place.

Andrew Gale, South West service manager for National Highways, said: "The mixture of adverse weather over this winter has presented a challenge not only on the A35 but across the region, and we've worked hard to maintain safety across our network.

"We implemented an enhance package of maintenance work last year, we've continued that investment this winter and, working with our local authority partners at Devon County Council and Dorset Council, and our police partners, we will continue to address evidenced safety concerns.

"We'll continue to monitor and inspect the A35 and A30 as part of ongoing maintenance work, but we've also delivered a number of recent schemes along the route and there's also a number of schemes in the pipeline where further improvements are required."

In recent years, National Highways has delivered a much-needed drainage scheme at the A35 Monkey's Jump roundabout and invested in a similar drainage scheme at Max Gate junction, near Dorchester. 

In addition to the planned resurfacing on the A35, safety improvement work is ongoing at Penn Duals, with further safety measures planned between Charmouth and Yellowham Hill, a new stadium roundabout cycling/pedestrian crossing on Weymouth Road and a drainage scheme at Kingston Russell. 

In the meantime, if drivers identify any issues on the A35, they can contact the National Highways Information Line on 0300 123 5000, and for more details on National Highways' work in the South West go to https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/south-west/