Roads to close as resurfacing work gets under way

Road closures and temporary traffic lights are being put in place as resurfacing work gets under way along several busy routes later.

Somerset Council will be resurfacing roads in and around Taunton and Wellington until March, reducing the number of potholes and making them safer for drivers.

Meanwhile, the council is also replacing six sets of traffic lights along the A39 Westway in Street, which are reaching the end of their working life.

Somerset councillor Richard Wilkins said: "As always, the team will do their best to get the work completed as quickly and efficiently as possible - please do liaise with them if you are a resident and need to raise any issues around access."

The resurfacing work is due to start at 18:30 GMT on Wellington Roundabout.

From the beginning of February, work will move to Taunton town centre to avoid conflict with National Highways work on the M5.

The aim is for all work to completed by the end of March.

Dates overlap to allow flexibility in the programme, however, only one road will be closed at a time. The following closures will run from 18:30 to 23:30 each evening:

• A38 West Park roundabout to Chelston roundabout - now until 3 February
• Fore Street-Corporation Street to Castle Way in Taunton - 21 January to 3 February
• Hammet Street in Taunton - 26 January to 18 February
• Canal roundabout, Bridgwater Lane and Hyde Lane roundabout at Langaller Way - 5 to 18 February
• A358 Priorswood roundabout and A359 Priorswood Road in Taunton will be closed - 24 February to 4 March
• A38 Wellington New Road roundabout and Stonegallows-Wellington New Road - 4 to 23 March
• A38 Cann Street and A3027 Park Street in Taunton - 10-30 March

The A38 Rumwell to Chelston will also be closed from 18:30 to 07:00 from 25 February to 10 March.

Meanwhile, in Street, temporary traffic lights are in place at the A39 junction with Farm Road.

The work, which will also include resurfacing and active travel improvements, is scheduled to be completed by late-April, with a small number of evening and overnight closures.

Wilkins said in November, when the works were announced: "We are aware there will be disruption at peak traffic times and during school and college drop-offs and pick-ups, as well as during peak shopping times. The team will be working hard to minimise this."

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