Somerset Council is under mounting pressure to expedite the ongoing roadworks on the A39 in west Somerset before the Easter holidays. The upgrades to the traffic signals at the Dunster Steep junction, where the A39 intersects with the A396, have been causing significant traffic delays since construction began in early January.
Local residents have reported journey times increasing by up to an hour, sparking frustration across the community. Councillor Marcus Kravis, representing the Dunster division, has publicly criticized the slow progress and urged the council and contractor Centregreat to accelerate the project. He described the situation as “increasingly difficult” to justify and called the current pace “embarrassing.”
The council maintains that their approach prioritizes safety and practicality, emphasizing that the work is scheduled to finish before the Easter long weekend. They explained that the traffic management system in place is designed to keep disruptions as minimal as possible while ensuring the timely completion of the work.
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Councillor Kravis raised concerns during a recent council meeting in Bridgwater, highlighting the risk of severe traffic congestion during the Easter period when visitor numbers and local travel increase substantially. He warned that without faster completion, the ongoing disruption could have significant social and economic impacts on the community.
In response to earlier feedback, the council has adjusted traffic management measures at the site, especially to accommodate holidaymakers traveling to and from the nearby Butlin’s holiday park. Still, Kravis insists more must be done to both reduce the duration of the works and improve communication with the public.
This latest project is not the first instance of traffic disruption on the A39. A £1 million scheme to expand the cycle path between Dunster and Minehead also faced delays and was temporarily suspended last year due to resident complaints.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, acknowledged local frustration but defended the measures taken. He explained that the council has maintained regular communication with stakeholders and continuously monitored traffic conditions, adjusting signal timings to minimize delays.
Wilkins emphasized that the complex nature of the infrastructure upgrade demands strict safety standards and that further speeding up the work is not feasible without compromising these standards. The council has increased workforce presence, including night shifts, to try to stay on schedule and is committed to completing the work by April 2, prior to the Easter holidays.
He also reminded residents that the current traffic signals are more than 30 years old and at risk of failure, making the upgrades essential for long-term road safety.
Despite reassurances, local frustration remains high as the community awaits the completion of this vital but disruptive project.