HEAVY rain this week has delayed work to the A339.

The surface dressing work was due to start on Tuesday on the eastbound dual carriageway in Basingstoke, but it will now take place on August 6, if the weather remains fine.

Work will be carried out between 9.30am and 9pm on the section of road known as Ringway North, from the A340 Ringway West junction to the A33 Reading Road junction.

It is part of the long-term Operation Resilience road investment programme.

Surface dressing is a relatively low cost road maintenance process where bitumen is sprayed onto the road surface and then covered with a layer of stone chippings.

The chippings need to be bedded in by traffic and while this is taking place advisory speed limits will be in place.

Sweepers will then remove any loose chippings.

One lane of the eastbound dual carriageway will need to close during the evening peak traffic flow.

There will be further lane restrictions on this and other roads in the area, but these will be carried out during off peak traffic times.

If there is more rain, then the work could be delayed again.

Any changes to the schedule will be updated on the roadside signs.

Operation Resilience is a long-term investment that represents a shift away from reactive to planned maintenance, to help the road remain in good condition for longer.

Surface dressing is used to seal the road from water ingress and restore any lost skid resistance.