Visitors to the Clarks Village shopping centre in Somerset should prepare for ongoing roadworks and temporary traffic lights on the A39 Westway in Street over the next four months.
Somerset Council announced in November 2025 that six sets of traffic lights along the A39, all over 30 years old and nearing the end of their operational life, will be fully replaced. Currently, temporary traffic lights are active at the Farm Road junction, with installations at the remaining locations underway since Tuesday morning, January 6.
This comprehensive project includes resurfacing the roadway and implementing active travel enhancements, such as a new shared-use pedestrian and cycle path connecting Farm Road underpass to existing routes. Work is expected to be completed by late April, with some evening and overnight closures scheduled to allow for resurfacing.
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The replacement of these aging traffic signals is a critical component of Somerset Council’s wider initiative to modernize traffic management infrastructure across the county. Similar upgrades have recently been completed in Bridgwater, Shepton Mallet, Taunton, Wells, and Yeovil, alongside another ongoing programme at the A396 Dunster Steep junction near Minehead.
To maintain traffic flow, ‘intelligent’ temporary traffic lights will mirror the timing of existing signals, aiming to minimise delays despite the extensive excavation required to remove old wiring and equipment.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, emphasised the importance of the work. “These are very busy junctions, and this essential upgrade will ensure traffic signals remain reliable for the next 30 years. We are aware of potential disruptions during peak times, school runs, and busy shopping periods, and our contractor Octavius is committed to minimising the impact.”
The A39 is a major artery in Somerset, connecting key towns such as Bridgwater, Street, Glastonbury, and Wells, and is vital for freight transport across the region. Towards the end of the scheme, a significant stretch between the Street and Westway roundabouts will be resurfaced, necessitating limited night-time road closures.
Updates on closures and any changes to the project timeline will be available on the Somerset Council’s roadworks portal at www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/roadworks-and-travel.
Notably, funding from Active Travel England, originally allocated for a cycle link project between Dunster and Carhampton that was cancelled due to logistical challenges, has been redirected to support the creation of the shared-use path as part of this scheme.