THE newly-opened relief road is to provide a 'vital part' of a diversion route while a main road closes for nearly a year.

Somerset County Council (SCC) has said the Western Relief Road (WRR) will be an alternative route for traffic while the A38 Bridgwater Road is closed.

This main road is set to close from August 9, and re-open once the £8.3million scheme is complete in the summer of 2022.

READ MORE: Bridgwater Road to close during Creech Castle works

“It’s good news that the new Western Relief Road is opening, as well as getting traffic off the main road in the village, it will support work to commence on the Toneway improvements,” said Councillor John Woodman, SCC’s cabinet member for Highways and Transport.

“We’d like to thank residents of Monkton Heathfield and the parish councils for their incredible patience and support during the last 18 months, and as we enter into this new phase.

“This is a period of huge change for Taunton and we understand it’s difficult for local people and road users – the closure of the A38 while the Toneway works will present challenges.

“We’re asking road users to please plan ahead and use the official diversion which incorporates the new road – driving through the village will cause unnecessary disruption for residents, so please be considerate.”

The WRR, now classified as the main A3259, opened on Monday (July 26), and has been built by Persimmon as part of the Monkton Heathfield Phase 1 development.

And although the roadworks have now finished, there will still be temporary traffic restrictions through Monkton Heathfield.

READ MORE: Western Relief Road, Taunton, now open - but 20mph speed limit in Monkton Heathfield

It has been built with the aim of reducing the volume of traffic travelling through Monkton Heathfield.

West Monkton Parish Council (WMPC) and SCC are working together to encourage motorists to use the new road between Yallands Hill and Sellicks Road, which links to the Eastern Relief Road at Bathpool, rather than travel through the village.

This is to help ensure minimum disruption for local residents.

The old route will be re-classified as a minor road and is in line to have traffic calming measures installed at a later date.

Chairman of WMPC, Cllr Stuart Haskins, added: “We’re delighted to see the Western Relief Road open at long last. This new piece of highway will we hope improve the quality of life for our local residents hugely.

“However, we are going through some big changes on the network which means almost as soon as it opens the road will need to be part of a major diversion.

“During the next year we’re urging road users to stick to the A class relief roads – please don’t be tempted to rat-run around the village lanes as this is dangerous and makes life unbearable for our residents.

“We’re working with SCC Highways on a number of measures to control traffic during this time to discourage the use of the old A3259 through the Monkton Heathfield and minor roads in the area.”

The temporary measures include:

  • A 20 mph limit between the junction of Yallands Hill/ WRR and the existing 30mph limit to the southwest of Monkton Elm Garden Centre
  • A weight limit between the junction of Yallands Hill/ WRR and the junction of the A3259 with the A38 north of the garden centre (except for access / delivery)
  • Deployment of mobile VMS on the A38 north of the junction of the A3259 with the A38 north east of the garden centre, and prior to the WRR on the A3259, to encourage use of the WRR and ERR
  • Yellow board signage to promote considerate driving
  • Deployment of Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) – potential locations need to be determined, but could be used to reinforce the 20mph limit, and could potentially also be used in Goosenford/ Mead Way and other locations as appropriate.