A £2.3 million scheme to stabilise a road embankment along the A36 starts in March.

The scheme, on a three-mile section of the A36 between Brassknocker Hill and Hantone Hill, Warminster Road, near Bath, is being carried out to correct faults in the bank underneath the road.

The faults are resulting in damage to the road surface.

While the work is taking place it will be necessary to close the road between Brassknocker Hill and Hantone Hill due to the equipment needed to carry out the work and also for the safety of workers and road users.

A clearly signed diversion route will be in place.

Highways Agency project sponsor Rachel Scott said: “Work includes stablising the bank with concrete, putting in a new steel barrier and repairs to the road surface.

“We have considered the works very carefully but a full closure of the road will be necessary to accommodate the size of equipment needed to complete this very important work.

“We do appreciate this will cause disruption and we have been consulting with a wide variety of stakeholders for many months to keep them fully informed of our plans.

“Everything possible is being done to keep disruption to an absolute minimum and complete the works as quickly as possible and we would like to thanks road users and local residents for their patience while we carry out this important maintenance.”

Work starts on Monday, March 2, and is expected to be completed by the middle of June.

While the closure is in place northbound through traffic will be diverted from the A36 just west of Warminster to take the A350 north to Chippenham where traffic would join the A4 west to Bath.

Southbound through traffic would be diverted at Bath to take the A4 east towards Chippenham and then south on the A350 to join the A36 west of Warminster.

Road users are advised to plan their route and allow an extra 30 minutes to complete their journeys.

Access will be maintained for residents and local businesses.