Somerset County Council is launching six weeks of roadworks on the A39 near Minehead to finalize a local walking and cycling route. Earlier work, completed in June 2023, established a £1 million shared-use cycle path between the Seaward Way roundabout in Minehead and the Marsh Lane housing development in Dunster.
The project faced setbacks, including a suspension of work in late April 2023 due to residents’ complaints about traffic delays caused by temporary lights. This led to a shift toward overnight closures for construction. The next phase will begin on the evening of May 6, focusing on linking the current cycle path to the junction with the A396 Dunster Steep and the existing underpass.
Funded by Active Travel England grants, the scheme will widen and resurface the narrow section connecting the A396’s wider shared-use path, enabling safer two-way passage for both pedestrians and cyclists. Somerset Council, which took over from the county council in April 2023, has assured there will be no daytime closures on the A39 between Minehead and Dunster, aiming to keep disruptions to a minimum for holidaymakers and local visitors.
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A council spokesperson stated: “This work completes the improvements to the existing route to Minehead. Similar quality standards can be expected. We anticipate staying on schedule, with no daytime traffic management and only light evening controls at the start and end of the project, ensuring minimal disruption.”
According to the council’s roadworks portal, contractor Octavius will manage the first stage under temporary traffic lights from 7 pm to 7 am daily until May 13. Additionally, from May 6 through June 17, the footpath between the Marsh Lane junction and Marsh Street will be closed, as will Marsh Street’s junction itself.
During this period, the A39 will have a temporary 30 mph speed limit to improve safety around the worksite. In May 2023, the council also secured £1.5 million in Active Travel England funding for similar upgrades along the A39 between Dunster and Carhampton. Although announced in December 2023, no progress has been reported in the past 18 months, and it remains unclear whether that section will proceed or be postponed indefinitely.
A council representative commented: “This section in Dunster is being funded through our active travel funds, but currently, there are no plans for further work through to Carhampton.”