Route will shut completely for 36 hours in May as well as for periods of overnight working, starting this month

THE A35 between Axminster and Honiton will be closed for resurfacing work over the coming weeks.

It will shut for 36 hours between 8pm on Monday, May 14, and 6am on Wednesday, May 16.

Overnight closures will also be put into operation between 8pm and 6am from Thursday, April 26, to Saturday, April 28, and between Wednesday May 16 and Friday, May 18.

During the closures traffic travelling east on the A35 will be diverted onto the A30 to Chard and then onto the A358, through Axminster, before returning onto the A35.

Traffic travelling west on the A35 will be diverted onto the A358 at the Yarty junction to Chard, then onto the A30 to Honiton.

An advisory diversion route will also be signed from the A35 Monkeys Jump Roundabout, near Dorchester and the A30 at Honiton, suggesting the use of the A37 and A303/A30 to avoid the closure and possible delays.

Local residents, and other interested parties, will have the opportunity to learn more about the road closure and proposed works at an exhibition to be held at Axminster Guildhall on Monday, April 23, between 9am and 5pm.

Highways Agency project sponsor Phil Hardy-Bishop said the work would ensure smoother journeys on the busy highway.

He said: “Our contractor will be resurfacing three sections of the road and there should be a marked improvement once this work has been completed.

“The new surface, while retaining anti-skid properties, will be smoother than it was, and it will be hardwearing, reducing the need for future maintenance requirements, which will be good news for road users.

“The work has been carefully planned and will be carried out largely using overnight closures when traffic flows are lowest, to minimise disruption. The 36-hour closure is needed to undertake work that is weather and moisture susceptible and therefore must be carried out during daylight hours.”

During the 36-hour road closure the contractor will be taking full advantage of the lack of traffic to undertake many other maintenance activities including sign cleaning, gully emptying, litter picking and road marking renewal.

Officials say this should reduce the need for further routine traffic management on this section of the A35 for the remaining year.

A spokesman added: “There will be clearly signed diversions in place but we would advise road users to allow slightly longer for their journeys. Access will be maintained throughout the works for residents, emergency services and construction workers.”