A four-week roadworks project has started to replace a key pedestrian crossing in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset.
Somerset Council is actively upgrading aging traffic signals across the region. After recent improvements on two critical sections of the A39 in Dunster and Street, the council and contractor Cambrensis Civil Engineering Ltd. have now focused their efforts on the B3140 Love Lane crossing, located near Burnham-on-Sea’s Tesco supermarket.
Work began on Monday, January 12, with motorists advised to expect delays during the replacement of the traffic lights. The process involves significant excavation to remove obsolete ducting and wiring before installing new signal heads.
Temporary traffic lights will regulate traffic throughout the works, and some additional congestion is anticipated during peak hours. Following the signal replacement, the council plans to resurface this section of road, which will require an evening or overnight closure, with details announced closer to the date.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, stated, “This project replaces end-of-life equipment, ensuring the signals remain reliable for the next 30 years. We recognize the potential for disruption during busy periods, and the team is committed to minimizing inconvenience.”
This puffin crossing upgrade is part of the Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The plan evaluates existing active travel networks and identifies projects for enhancement as government funding permits.
The crossing is situated on ‘Route 3’ of the LCWIP, which runs along the residential eastern side of Burnham-on-Sea, encompassing Stoddens Lane, Love Lane, Frank Foley Parkway, and Pepperall Road before connecting to Burnham Road (B3139). The LCWIP prioritizes new and improved crossings near major junctions to support safer walking, wheeling, and cycling, including at the Tesco roundabout and Burnham Road/Pepperall Road junction.
Additionally, the plan advocates for continuous cycle tracks along Love Lane, Frank Foley Parkway, and Pepperall Road, complemented by a cycleway between Pepperall Road and Morland Road linking to quiet cycling routes through the Morland Estate toward Apex Park.
Over the next 12 to 18 months, Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge’s road network anticipates notable disruption due to improvement works at Edithmead roundabout, a key link to the M5 junction 22. The council expects to appoint a contractor by late January for preparatory activities ahead of the full scheme launch later this year.