M5 drop-in events announced to explain link road closure
Residents of Wellington and the neighbouring villages will have three opportunities to find out more about a ?5.7m upgrade to a major local road after dates for public drop-in events were confirmed. The Chelston link road (also known as the 'concrete carriageway') connects junction 26 of the M5 to Wellington[1], the Westpark 26 business park and the A38 towards Taunton[2]. Somerset Council[3] announced in late-April that it would finally begin an upgrade to the link road in mid-June[4] - almost five years after the Department for Transport (DfT) provided the bulk of the necessary funding[5].
Ahead of work getting under way, the council and its contractor Heidelberg Materials[6] will be holding drop-in events in Wellington and West Buckland, giving locals a chance to find out more about the scheme and give their feedback on how its impact can be mitigated over the summer. The Chelston link road was constructed in 1974 to provide a connection between Wellington and the M5 to Taunton - with the southbound section towards Tiverton and Exeter not being completed until 1976. The surface of both the motorway junction and the link road has deteriorated in recent years, causing damage to vehicles and uncomfortable journeys for motorists.
Due to the depth of excavations required around the junction 26 roundabout, the project will require a complete closure of both the motorway junction and the link road (up to the Foxmoor Business Park[7]) from June 15 until late-September. Access will be maintained to Foxmoor Business Park from the Chelston roundabout, which connects the A38 to the A3087 Taunton Road into Wellington[8]. According to the council's own infographic, West Buckland residents will not be able to use Sawyers Hill to access the motorway junction or the Blackdown Hills[9]from June 1 until late-September.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said: "We know people will have questions and concerns they need to raise, so we'd encourage anyone to please come and see us at one of the drop-ins if you can. "We have had some useful feedback already and this is the very start of our engagement with the community and businesses. There has been a lot of positive feedback about getting this very important scheme done, but we understand this will be disruptive and we will be working closely with local businesses[10], community leaders and residents to ensure this is minimised as much as possible."
Public drop-in events about the scheme will be held on the following dates:
- Wednesday, May 14, 4-7pm at West Buckland Village Hall
- Thursday, May 15, 3.30-7pm at Wellington Football Club
- Wednesday, May 21, 3.30-7pm at Wellington Football Club
Infographic showing the Chelston Link Road upgrade in Wellington (Image: Somerset Council)
During the construction, Heidelberg Materials will use an innovative technique known as 'rubblization' to completely break up the existing concrete road surface using heavy machinery. Instead of removing 7,300 tonnes of concrete from site, the materials will be retained and recycled as sub-base for the new road. This modern recycling method, often used on airport runways, will save 200 tonnes in carbon and around 1,130 lorry movements, compared to traditional road construction methods.
This method is not only better for the environment, but also means the work will be completed faster, minimising disruption as much as possible. The window and timescale for this project has been agreed with National Highways and is dictated by forthcoming M5 works, alongside the need to allow access to the gritting depot off the Chelston link road during winter.
Junction 26 of the M5 at Wellington (Image: N. Chadwick)
Of the ?5.7m budgeted for the scheme, ?4.783m comes from the DfT, with the remainder being provided by the council through borrowing.
For more details on these and other roadworks in your local area, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/roadworks-and-travel.
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References
- ^ Wellington (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Taunton (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Somerset Council (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ it would finally begin an upgrade to the link road in mid-June (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ provided the bulk of the necessary funding (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Heidelberg Materials (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ the Foxmoor Business Park (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ the A3087 Taunton Road into Wellington (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ the Blackdown Hills (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ we understand this will be disruptive and we will be working closely with local businesses (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Somerset Live (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ click this link and select 'Join Community'. (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Somerset Live (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Privacy Notice. (www.reachplc.com)
- ^ Click here to join our WhatsApp community. (chat.whatsapp.com)