The A361 across the Somerset Levels has been reopened today (19 February) following an assessment and clear-up by Somerset Council.
The road was closed on 25 January after it flooded following persistent rain throughout the month and rising water levels.
The situation was compounded by Storm Chandra with further flooding and a Major Incident was declared on 27 January with Somerset Council, the Environment Agency, emergency services, health and other partners working together to respond to the flooding.
As of yesterday (18 February) the situation was no longer being treated as a Major Incident and has moved into a recovery phase.
During the last 3 weeks the Environment Agency (EA) deployed extra pumps to 19 locations on the Somerset Levels and Moors to reduce water levels and protect properties. Although the weather forecast remains changeable with more rain expected, conditions on the ground are continuing to improve and the A361 is clear of flood water.
Following an assessment and debris clearance by Somerset Council today the road was reopened.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services said:
This is a vital route and we are really pleased to be able to reopen it today.
We understand the urgency for local people, businesses and road users, but we have to ensure the road is safe and completely clear of debris. We are grateful for everyone’s patience.
We will continue to work closely with the EA over the coming days to monitor the situation, we have had an unprecedented start to 2026 in terms of rain and we can expect further wet weather in the coming weeks on ground that is already saturated. That means we have to be prepared to act swiftly to reclose the road if necessary.
Some roads remain closed, including Cutts Road, Langport Road and New Road on the Levels. Residents are advised to check for updates on the Travel Somerset Facebook page or the Roadworks and travel information page and plan carefully before setting out.
You can find out the status of roads that have Emergency road closure gates.
Do not drive through flood water or ignore road closed signs.
More information about safety during floods on the road can be found on Somerset Road Safety’s Adverse weather conditions page.
