Heidelberg Materials UK upgrade iconic UK route

01 December, 2025

Heidelberg Materials UK and Somerset Council removed and recycled the worn-out two-mile road, and produced and laid the new asphalt under challenging conditions, including steep gradients, narrow passes and nighttime working

Heidelberg Materials UK and Somerset Council removed and recycled the worn-out two-mile road, and produced and laid new asphalt under challenging conditions, including steep gradients, narrow passes and night-time working

Heavy building materials firm delivers complex night-time resurfacing in Cheddar Gorge

HEIDELBERG Materials UK have completed a challenging road resurfacing programme in Cheddar Gorge – England’s deepest natural canyon.

Delivered as part of the company’s term maintenance contract with Somerset Council, the B3135 upgrade was carried out at night to reduce disruption at the popular tourist destination. Much of the work took place along narrow sections bordered by high rock faces and gradients reaching 16%.

Approximately 1,300 tonnes of worn road surface were removed and, where possible, recycled back into the new asphalt produced at Heidelberg Materials’ Whatley Quarry in the county. To cut carbon emissions, the same lorries transported planings to the plant and returned to the site with fresh asphalt wherever logistics allowed.

More than 2,500 tonnes of the company’s Tufflex asphalt were used to resurface the two-mile route. Tufflex offers a highly durable, deformation-resistant road surface designed to minimize wheel rutting. Its polymer-modified binder improves flexibility and fatigue resistance, while its low void content provides strong protection against water ingress.

‘The B3135 through Cheddar Gorge is one of the most scenic roads in the country,’ said Tim Doyle, Somerset framework manager at Heidelberg Materials UK. ‘That status, night-time working, and the fact that it is bordered by SSSI and home to a large number of inquisitive wild goats and Soay sheep, created some challenging conditions for the team.

‘The successful completion of the scheme, on time and on budget, is testament to the strong partnership with have developed with Somerset Council through our term maintenance contract.’

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s lead member for transport and waste, added: ‘Cheddar Gorge is a British icon, so keeping the road in good condition is essential. This was a challenging project, and I am delighted that Heidelberg Materials has delivered it on time and on budget.’