Roadworks on vital M5 link in Somerset delayed until end 2024
Somerset County Council received nearly £5m from the Department for Transport (DfT) back in July 2020 to upgrade and resurface the roundabout at junction 26 and the Chelston Link Road to Wellington[1] (known locally as the ‘concrete carriageway’).
The scheme has been repeatedly delayed since this announcement, with the funding being taken forward into the new Somerset Council when it set its first budget in February 2023.
Council officers have now confirmed the scheme will not get under way until “the latter part of 2024”, with discussions ongoing to ensure it does not clash with other major roadworks in the area.
The delay of the scheme was revealed in papers published ahead of a meeting of the council’s corporate and resources scrutiny committee, which is scheduled to take place in Taunton[2] on Tuesday (December 5).
After the council declared a financial emergency in early-November, all major capital projects – which includes major road improvement schemes – are being reviewed to ensure they provide value for money and can be funded as much as possible without external borrowing, in light of high interest rates.
Of the £5,110,000 remaining allocated to the project within the 2023/24 budget, only £500,000 will be spent before the end of the financial year – with the remaining £4,600,000 (funding the actual construction) being moved into the 2024/25 budget.
Nicola Hix, the council’s director of finance and procurement, stated in her written report: “The A38 Chelston link road resurfacing project has progressed through the pre-construction phase.
“However, the main construction is now not scheduled to commence until thesecond half of 2024/25.
“This is due to the tendering process and availability of road space with several National Highways works planned within the local area.”
The ‘concrete carriageway’ that links the M5 to the A38 (Image: Daniel Mumby)
The funding for the ‘concrete carriageway’ scheme is ring-fenced, meaning it cannot be reallocated either for other transport projects or day-to-day spending on maintaining Somerset’s road network.
The council recently received an additional £3.5m from the DfT as a result of the cancellation of the High Speed 2 rail link between Birmingham and Manchester – but this relates to day-to-day spending, such as repairing potholes and resurfacing other short sections.
Since the funding was originally awarded, numerous major developments along or near the ‘concrete carriageway’ have been approved, ranging from the creation of a new business park and associated wetlands to the east of the road to the approval of a new KFC drivethru within the nearby Westpark 26 employment zone.
Somerset Council said it was working with National Highways (which is responsible for maintaining the M5) to ensure the work could be carried out soon without clashing with other planned roadworks over the next 12 months.
A spokesman said: “These are major and complex works that will ensure the road remains usable for years to come, but will take some time to complete.
“We need to consider how the scheme can be delivered in the most cost- effective (given industry inflation pressures) and environmentally friendly way.
“Critically, we must also avoid any clash with other local and national works, and are in discussions with National Highways to identify a suitable schedule.
“We hope to have an update soon, but can say the works are not likely to happen before the latter part of 2024.”
The council’s initial savings proposals will be discussed by its executive committee on December 6, with next year’s budget being set by councillors in late-February 2024.
References
- ^ Wellington (www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk)
- ^ Taunton (www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk)