Works at Whitnell Corner
Work will be carried out to replace the existing junction where the Bath Road B3139 intersects with the B3135, with a new roundabout. Work commenced in July 2026. A 24 hours a day, 7 days a week road closure will be in place for the duration of the scheme.
The junction is governed by a national speed limit in all directions and it has been the scene of 67 collisions over 20 years, including 15 serious incidents and one fatality in 2019. Between 2019 and 2024 there were 22 collisions, 3 of which were serious, and one fatal incident.
The Council’s contractor Octavius is delivering the £4 million scheme. Because of the scope of the project, it is not possible to keep the road open during the works, but the scheme will be completed by the end of the year.
The money comes from Government capital grant funding allocated for road safety schemes.
More information
Why the scheme is being carried out
The junction is the scene of a large number of collisions over the years – 67 in 20 years, including one fatal and 15 serious. It has been earmarked for potential works for some years. The junction is currently national speed limit (up to 60mph) on all approaches.
The work being carried out
We are building a new roundabout instead of the existing four-way crossroads. There will also be a 40 mph limit introduced on all approaches.
Construction timescales and junction closure
This is a major scheme and we need to dig up and realign all approaches to the junction. We need to close the whole junction to work safely, as there will be a large team and heavy machinery on site. The junction needs to be closed for the safety of the public and the workforce.
Why a roundabout has been chosen
When planning safety improvement schemes, we consider a range of factors to make sure we choose the right option for each location. Taking into account the rural location of this junction and the national speed limit on all approaches, a roundabout provides the safety improvements needed and is a permanent solution that does not rely on technology. Traffic lights would be less suitable in this setting and we would need to duct in power.
Keeping the junction open during construction
We have looked at the alternative of keeping the junction partially open, but this would make the scheme much longer, potentially a year or more. This would significantly add to the disruption and require multiple changes in traffic management during the construction phase, which would be more confusing for the travelling public. The location is not ideal for this type of construction in the darker months and would require demobilisation for a period, prolonging the programme further.
Scheme cost and funding
This is not a minor scheme. We are basically rebuilding the whole junction and realigning the roads. We also want maximum resource on this project to ensure it is done as quickly as possible because it requires road closure. The money comes from Government, DfT capital grant funding allocated specifically for road safety schemes.
Access to local businesses
There will be diversions in place, but access will be maintained at all times to businesses in the area. Signage will be put in place to underline that businesses are open as normal. If you do have any concerns or questions, please phone 0300 123 2224.
Diversion routes
Information about the diversion routes is available by visiting our page Roadworks and travel information.