The extensive £5.7 million Somerset Council project to replace a deteriorating 51-year-old concrete road is nearing completion, bringing relief to drivers after months of disruption. Since June 16, all slip roads at Junction 26, the roundabout, and the A38 link road connecting the M5 motorway to the Chelston roundabout have been closed for essential replacement work.
Thanks to innovative construction techniques and a commitment to extended overnight working, the full reopening is now scheduled for the night between Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7—nearly a month ahead of the original plan.
The project team prioritized tasks critical to reopening the roads as swiftly as possible. While some finishing work will continue throughout September, these will take place without impacting traffic flow.
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Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s lead member for transport and waste services, expressed his satisfaction: “We pledged to minimize disruption, so it’s fantastic to reopen the A38 and motorway junction much earlier than expected. Thanks to the dedication of our project team and contractors Heidelberg Materials, these important improvements are happening sooner than planned.”
Jonathan Hill, National Highways route manager, added: “It’s encouraging to see Somerset Council delivering this vital road upgrade ahead of schedule. We appreciate drivers’ patience during the work.”
To prevent conflicts with upcoming M5 maintenance and to maintain winter access to a nearby gritting depot, the construction timeline was carefully coordinated with National Highways.