Accident junction becoming roundabout in £4m upgrade

A junction which has been the site of many accidents is to be turned into a roundabout as part of a £4m upgrade funded by the government.

Somerset Council has unveiled plans to replace the current junction at Whitnell Corner near West Horrington, close to Wells, where the Bath Road B3139 intersects with the B3135.

The junction has become notorious for crashes after 67 collisions over the last 20 years.

Traffic will be diverted for an estimated six months to allow the works to be completed, starting at the end of April.

Between 2019 and 2024, there were 22 accidents at the junction - where the national speed limit is in place in both directions - including one fatal incident and three serious collisions.

In 2024, the council also realigned a nearby junction of the B3135 after a number of collisions.

In February a local MP welcomed plans to lower the speed limit at an accident hotspot on the Frome Bypass.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's lead member for transport said the junction at Whitnell Corner had long been a priority, but it had taken time to plan the road closures and secure government funding.

"I'm really pleased to see this happening – the statistics show we need to get this work done," he said.

He added the council had been working with local businesses to minimise the impact of the road closures

"At the end of the day this scheme is vital to ensure the chance of death or serious injury on this junction is significantly reduced."

Matt Boiles, roads policing inspector at Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Our officers have attended a number of serious collisions at this junction, so we're pleased to see plans progressing to improve safety here."

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