Somerset Council is focused on ensuring the A30 Hendford Hill can fully reopen by the end of May in time for the peak holiday season after severe damage caused by Storm Chandra earlier this year.
The busy road in Yeovil is operating one-way – northbound only – at the moment after a bank slippage and fallen trees made the route unsafe. The Council’s Highways Team carried out initial repairs and following this a detailed geological assessment was carried out.
Major vegetation clearance is being carried out, followed by work to clear the debris. Concrete barriers will then be installed at the bottom of the slope to reduce the risk of any future falls reaching the highway.
Once this is completed the road will reopen fully. A short-term full closure will be needed to put the barrier in place. Road users will be kept updated.
Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Service, Councillor Richard Wilkins, said:
The damage caused to the embankment was substantial and we’ve been working hard to reduce the risk of a further landslip and make sure it can reopen both ways as soon as possible. I’d like to thank everyone for their patience while the work is done. It is vital we reopen both lanes as soon as possible.
Looking ahead, we will consider a more comprehensive plan but this would need significant funding. Any option will need to be costed and designed, but we are moving at pace with this work due to the importance of the A30 locally and regionally.
