30mph Speed Limit Imposed at Somerset’s Edithmead Roundabout Near M5 for Upcoming Upgrades

Somerset Council has announced a temporary 30mph speed limit on the approaches to the Edithmead roundabout near the M5 motorway. This reduction will be in effect for approximately two months starting January 19, as preliminary works begin ahead of major upgrades to this vital junction.

The Edithmead roundabout serves as a key link between the M5, Burnham-on-Sea, and Highbridge. The planned improvements aim to transform it into a ‘throughabout,’ allowing uninterrupted traffic flow from the motorway onto the northbound A38, thereby easing congestion and enhancing road safety.

In collaboration with North Somerset Council, Somerset Council is undertaking a broader initiative to improve the A38 corridor stretching from the M5 to Bristol Airport. This project focuses on reducing journey times, improving pedestrian and cyclist safety, and upgrading infrastructure along this busy route.

Initial works involve the removal of trees and vegetation to prepare the site for the main construction phase, expected later this year. To maintain safety during this period, lane closures will occur, and traffic management measures such as temporary signals or stop-go boards may be deployed. Specifically, the A38 Bristol Road north of the roundabout may be narrowed to a single lane at times.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, the portfolio holder for transport and waste services, emphasized the importance of the project: “We have worked hard to secure funding to improve this vital stretch of the A38. While tree clearance is necessary now, a comprehensive landscaping package will restore greenery once the project is complete.”

The Edithmead upgrade is modeled on the recent Dunball ‘throughabout’ scheme in Bridgwater, which successfully improved traffic flow with signalised approaches and enhanced pedestrian and cycling facilities. Funded largely through the government’s levelling-up fund, the Dunball project cost £10.7 million.

Alongside the roundabout works, the replacement of traffic lights on the B3140 Love Lane pedestrian crossing in Burnham-on-Sea began earlier this month. Both councils are jointly managing a £26 million Department for Transport investment that will fund ten improvement schemes between Highbridge and Bristol Airport. Somerset will receive roughly £8.6 million, with the bulk allocated to Edithmead’s overhaul.

Additional Somerset initiatives include:

Rooksbridge Road Safety: Introducing new road markings and potential traffic calming to enhance pedestrian safety in the village.
Cross Junction Redesign: Remodeling this busy intersection near Cross village into a staggered junction to improve traffic flow and safety, including necessary land acquisition.
Strawberry Line Crossing Upgrade: Enhancing the staggered crossing at Shute Shelve along the active travel route. Proposals support replacing it with a footbridge, similar to one recently built in Shepton Mallet.

Somerset Council has yet to announce the full timeline for the main construction at Edithmead roundabout once preparatory works conclude.