SOMERSET residents face another year replete with roadworks as numerous improvement schemes take shape.

With the upgrade of the A303 between Podimore and Sparkford continuing until next winter – there’s been plenty of scope for muttering about delays while stuck waiting at lights or crawling through contraflows.

And that’s before you get to the roadworks on the eastern side of Bridgwater to unlock major housing sites, with a new roundabout being constructed on the A372 Westonzoyland Road.

With plenty of big schemes already pencilled in for 2024, Somerset shows no signs of getting a break from cones and people in high-viz jackets any time soon.

Here’s a rundown of major roadworks schemes which are due to take place in Somerset in 2024.

Please note: all the information below is sourced from Somerset Council’s official website as of Wednesday, December 20, 2023. It is not intended as an exhaustive list of all planned roadworks across the county, and details of all schemes, including dates and diversionary routes, are subject to change.

The list also does not schemes which got under way in 2023 and will continue into 2024 – such as the A303 upgrade, the ongoing elements of the Yeovil Refresh regeneration programme, or  the final stage of major roadworks in Bruton town centre.

January 2 – May 10: the B3224 Roundwaters, between Exford and Wheddon Cross in the Exmoor National Park, will be closed to allow for significant repairs to the collapsed portion following previous storms. A lengthy diversion will be signposted.

January 5 – April 1 (approximate): the eastern car park at Castle Cary railway station, on the A371 Station Road in Castle Cary, will be closed for three months to allow the access road to be resurfaced. The western car park will remain in use for rail passengers.

January 5 onwards (approximate): a 20mph speed limit will be in force on the A39 Quantock Road in Bridgwater to allow for a new crossroads to be constructed over a period of up to 12 months. The new junction will unlock 675 homes to the north (on the Cokerhurst Farm site) and a further 352 to the south, near the Quantock Road Cemetery

January 8-11:  Gigaclear will be upgrading broadband infrastructure along the A357 Combe Hill in Templecombe during this week. Temporary two-way traffic lights will be in place.

January 8-12: Wales & West Utilities will be carrying out unspecified maintenance work on the A378 North Street in Langport town centre. Two-way traffic lights will be in place throughout.

January 8-12: The Exeter Road roundabout in Rockwell Green will be subject to temporary traffic lights on all approaches throughout this week. This will allow speed restriction signs to be erected.

January 8-12: Airband will be upgrading broadband infrastructure along the A38 Wellington Road in Taunton during this week. Temporary two-way traffic lights will be in place.

January 8-19: the A361 will be closed between Dallimore Lane and Slait Hill near East Cranmore to allow for Somerset Council to undertake resurfacing work. Work will be carried out in the evenings to reduce disruption to motorists, with a diversion being in place between 6:30pm and 11:30pm.

January 8-19: Merryfield Lane in Doulting will be closed to allow for Somerset Council to make repairs to the bridge over the railway line. A local diversion will be in place.

January 8-22: the B3151 Lower New Road in Cheddar will be closed to allow Bristol Water to install a new water main. A local diversion will be in advertised.

January 8 – March 15: Devon County Council will be carrying out long-awaited repairs to the A30 at Crawley Farm on the Devon-Somerset border following a landslip which closed the eastbound carriageway in 2021. Temporary traffic lights will remain in place throughout.

January 8 – October 18: there will be roadworks throughout this period on the A3027 Town Bridge in Taunton town centre to allow Somerset Council to make extensive repairs to the bridge. The work will cost £1.3m to complete, with road closures being kept to a minimum.

January 9-11: Wessex Water will be installing a new water main on the A39 Priest Street in Williton, near the planned site of 350 new homes. Two-way traffic lights will be in place throughout.

January 9-12: The A372 in Pibsbury will be closed to allow Somerset Council’s rights of way team to remove a “dangerous bridge”. A lengthy diversion will be in place.

January 11-24: Somerset Council will be carrying out remedial work on the B3153 Langport Road in Somerton, near the Patch Meadows housing development. Two-way traffic lights will be in force.

January 15-19: Airband will be upgrading broadband infrastructure along the A38 Stonegallows in Taunton during this week. Temporary two-way traffic lights will be in place.

January 15-23: Wessex Water will be carrying out drainage repairs on the A362 Wallbridge in Frome, repairing damage caused by tree roots. Two-way traffic lights will be in force.

January 15 – February 9: The B3135 The Cliffs will be closed to allow the Longleat Estate to make essential repairs within Cheddar Gorge. A local diversion will be signposted.

January 16 – February 12: Energetics will be carrying out gas maintenance work and repairs on the A39 Hopcott Road in Minehead. Temporary two-way traffic lights will be in place.

January 17-19: the B3170 Honiton Road near Corfe will be closed to allow Airband to install new poles and related infrastructure. A local diversion for traffic in the Blackdown Hills will be advertised nearer the time.

January 22-30: A short stretch of the B3191 Five Bells, between Watchet and Williton, will be closed to allow Milestone Infrastructure to carry out earthworks near the junction with Brendon Road. A local diversion will be in place throughout.

January 25-29: Somerset Council will be carrying out patching works on New Road between Hambridge and Stembridge. A local diversion will be advertised.

January 26 – February 5: Cathole Bridge Road in Crewkerne will be closed near the planned Maple Grove development at the corner of Lang Road to all for Network Rail to carry out maintenance. A diversion will be in place throughout, with Crewkerne railway station passengers having to use the A30 Chard Road and the A356 Station Road.

February 5-9: Wessex Water will be carrying out maintenance work on the A37 Fosse Way near Babcary. Temporary traffic lights will be in place.

February 5-9: Ilchester Road near Charlton Mackrell will be closed to allow Wessex Internet to upgrade existing broadband infrastructure. A diversion will be advertised locally.

February 5-23: N. Baylis Tree Cutting Services will be carried out phased tree cutting services along the B3153 Snap Hill between Somerton and Keinton Mandeville. A local diversion will be in place.

February 12-16: Wessex Water will be carrying out routine maintenance during this time on North Street in  Bridgwater. Two-way traffic lights will be in place throughout.

February 12-16: St. Mary’s Street in Bridgwater town centre will be closed to allow Openreach to upgrade broadband infrastructure. A local diversion will be in place.

February 12-23: Two-way traffic lights will be in force on the A39 Bath Road in Woolavington near the junction with Crancombe Lane. This will allow Somerset Council to carry out drainage improvement works.

February 12 – March 22: Crimchard in Chard will be closed between Bondfields Way and Cuttifords Door to allow Harris and Harris Construction Ltd. to carry out work related to the Blackdown Heights development. A diversion will be advertised locally.

February 18-27: Temporary two-way traffic lights will be in force on the A38 Bridgwater Road in North Petherton during this time. This is to allow unspecified road maintenance to be carried out.

February 19 – March 22: Wales & West Utilities will be carrying out unspecified maintenance work on Tintinhull Road in Yeovil. A local diversion will be in place.

February 26 – April 12: Lipe Hill Lane in Taunton will be closed to allow a new gas main to be laid to serve the Orchard Grove housing development. A local diversion will be in place.

March 11-15: Gigaclear will be upgrading broadband infrastructure along the A371 Ansford Hill in Castle Cary during this week. Temporary two-way traffic lights will be in place.

March 11-22: Wessex Water will be carrying out flood prevention work on Church Street in Keinton Mandeville, lining damaged sections of local sewers to prevent overflows during heavy rain. A diversion will be in place along local roads.

March 15-18: Doniford Road in Doniford will be closed to allow Openreach to upgrade broadband infrastructure. A local diversion will be in place.

March 25-29: Wessed Water will be closing Cold Harbour in Milborne Port to install a new water main. A diversion will be advertised locally.

April 1-29: Giganet will be will be upgrading broadband infrastructure along the A372 Westonzoyland Road in Bridgwater throughout this month. Temporary traffic lights will be in force throughout.

April 1 – July 31 (approximate): National Highways will be carrying out upgrades to five bridges on the M5 between Wellington and Bridgwater. Diversions will be advertised as more information is made public.

May 15 – June 28: Tilbury Douglas Construction Ltd. will be on site outside Yeovil Hospital on Higher Kingston to construct a new access road to serve its recently approved breast cancer unit. Diversion details will be announced nearer the time.

July 1 onwards (approximate): Somerset Council will finally begin its delayed £5m upgrade to the Dunball roundabout in Bridgwater from the early summer. Precise timings and details of the upgrade, including diversions, will be published nearer the time.