Introduction

The Council is carrying out a major refurbishment of traffic signals at locations in towns across Somerset.

Work begin in 2021 and is due to continue into 2024.

Some sites in Taunton, Bridgwater, Chard, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Yeovil and Frome have been completed – further work in Bridgwater, Yeovil and Wells is currently ongoing. Further work is planned in Taunton, Shepton Mallet and Frome – details to be confirmed.

Bridgwater

The work will see major upgrades to traffic signals at the Broadway/St John’s Street junction as well as the zebra crossings on Broadway near Blake Place being replaced with new puffin crossings.

The work at the Broadway junction with St John’s Street will also include a new parallel crossing, allowing cyclists to get across this busy junction in one movement, alongside an improved pedestrian crossing.

This programme includes resurfacing of a significant section of Broadway, including Monmouth Street, the top of St John’s Street and up to Salmon Parade.

Expected completion date for this extensive programme is summer.

Evening closures will be required from 6.30pm to 11pm as follows:

Broadway 

• Tuesday 11th – Monday 24th April, evenings 6:30pm to 11:00pm (excluding Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings).

Monmouth Street

• Tuesday 25th April – Thursday 11th May, evenings 6:30pm to 11:00pm (excluding Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings).

St Johns Street

• Monday 15th May – Thursday 18th May, evenings 6:30pm to 11:00pm.

Evening works diversion routes:

• ERH – Eastover Monmouth Street- Phase 1.pdf
• ERH – Eastover Monmouth Street- Phase 2.pdf
• ERH – Eastover Monmouth Street- Phase 3.pdf

Yeovil

• Yeovil saw work commence earlier this year on a programme of works which featured a number of key sites on Lysander Road and three crossings. The junction signal refurbishments on Lysander Road are:
  • West Hendford – work started October 2022
  • Pine Tree Avenue – work completed September 2022
  • Forest Hill  – work started October 2022
• Crossings on Sherborne Road, Ilchester Road and Lyde Rd are now refurbished.
• West Coker Vital resurfacing work and traffic light repairs on a section of the A30 in West Coker are to be carried out this summer. The team will be resurfacing 7,000 sqm of West Coker’s High Street, as well as replacing ageing traffic signals on a narrow section of the road. The traffic signals need to be renewed as part the signals refurbishment programme. Visit A30 West Coker traffic signals replacement and resurfacing works page for full details.

Work is ongoing in Mendip:

Shepton Mallet

• Fosse Lane completed October 2022
• Charlton Rd crossroads A37/A361 – work commences 2023

Frome

• Christchurch St East – due to complete early 2023
• Market Place  – early 2023
• Princess Anne Rd (3-way junction) summer 2023

Wells

• Mountery Rd – completed August 2022
• Strawberry Way/Burcott Rd due to complete November 2022
• Portway/Strawberry junction starting November 2022
• Strawberry Way south crossing (near Lidl) starting spring 2023
• Wookey Hole Rd/Portway Junction starting late spring 2023
• East Liberty crossing  – TBC likely 2023.

Background

The signals recovery programme is Somerset Council’s £11.6 million county-wide package of work over the next three years to refurbish signal equipment coming to the end of its working life.

It’s essential the work happens now as the existing signals, in service for between 25- 40 years, are in a state of disrepair and need replacing as soon as possible.

The new signals will be more efficient, more eco-friendly, and importantly should improve traffic flow and will provide much safer access for both cyclists and pedestrians.

The existing signals are in a state of disrepair and must be replaced as soon as possible.

The new signals will be better co-ordinated, more efficient, and eco-friendly and should improve traffic flow plus provide much better connectivity and safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

These are Somerset Council capital funded works. It’s part of an £11.6 million package refurbish signals across Somerset over the next 3 years.

The contractor is Centregreat, whilst Griffiths carried out the Rowbarton phase.

Work commenced in Yeovil early in 2022. Other sites in Wells, Shepton Mallet and Frome commenced later the same year.

All existing traffic signals will be fully refurbished – underground infrastructure which carries cables must be dug up and removed, along with new poles, and updated equipment installed which is user friendly and tactile compliant for all users including those who are visually impaired.

Overall this should improve traffic flow.

The new signals and controls are low voltage and eco-friendly in line with Somerset’s Climate Emergency Strategy.

Introduction

Vital resurfacing work and traffic light repairs on a section of the A30 in West Coker are to be carried out this summer.

Somerset Council will be resurfacing 7,000 sqm of West Coker’s High Street, as well as replacing ageing traffic signals on a narrow section of the road.

The traffic signals need to be renewed as part of a £16.6 million county-wide programme to refurbish traffic lights at the end of their working life.

The works are being planned for West Coker during the school summer holidays as data shows traffic on the A30 is reduced by 50 per cent during this period compared with other times of the year.

A 24-hour road closure will need to remain in place from Saturday 22 July to Monday 4 September, while the work is carried out. It’s not possible to keep the road open as there will be significant excavations needed to remove the old traffic signals and accompanying ducting and wiring. A full closure also ensures the work will be progressed more quickly.

Access for residents and businesses in the immediate area will be maintained throughout and a diversion will be in place, with full details on Roadworks and travel page.

Bus services will need to be diverted and free bus shuttle services are being supplied by Somerset Council, alongside a range of other measures provided by our contractor Centregreat.

Supporting the community

• Free shuttle bus services from West Coker to Yeovil, and West Coker to Crewkerne. The timetable has been put together so that the shuttle buses connect with the 96 and the 6 to allow onward travel to Chard and Bridport. The shuttle buses, which are being run by South West Coaches and the Council, will also connect East Chinnock, Haselbury Plucknett, North Perrot and Misterton with Crewkerne/Chard and Yeovil.

West Cooker free shuttle bus timetable

XLS, 1.2 MB

• Gates at either end of the A30 closure staffed 24-hours a day to ensure access for residents and businesses throughout – passes for residents and businesses.
• Dedicated community liaison officers based in the site office in West Coker Village Hall car park, Monday to Friday to support residents and businesses.
• Convenient access to the GP surgery and businesses throughout the closure.
• Emergency services will continue to have full access to all properties at all times in West Coker. For the majority of the road closure, emergency vehicles will also be permitted through-access to East Chinnock.
• Working hours will be 6am – 11pm so we can get these works done as quickly as possible and reopen the road. Noise monitoring will be in place, with quiet hours between 6-7am and 7-11pm.

The existing traffic signals have reached the end of their working life and must be replaced as soon as possible. We are taking the opportunity to also carry out resurfacing of the road while it is closed.

This is part of our £16.6 million signals recovery programme.

The contractor is Centregreat.

A public drop-in was held on 12 July in West Coker Village Hall. There is a site office and public liaison officer on duty for local people in the village hall car park Monday to Friday during office hours.

Work commenced 21 July and is scheduled to finish week commencing 4 September.

Replacement of signals on A30 West Coker and resurfacing of road.