A notorious collision blackspot near Wells is finally set for a major safety overhaul, with Somerset Council preparing to replace the Whitnell Corner junction with a new roundabout. The £4 million scheme is due to start at the end of April and will mean a full 24/7 closure for around six months.

The junction, near West Horrington, is where the Bath Road B3139 meets the B3135. Somerset Council said it has been the scene of 67 collisions over the past 20 years, including 15 serious crashes and one fatality in 2019.

The figures are even starker over the last five years. Between 2019 and 2024 alone, there were 22 collisions at the junction, including the fatal crash and three other serious incidents.

Now the council says it is taking action to cut the risk of more deaths and serious injuries by building a roundabout at the site. Contractor Octavius Regional Civil Engineering is due to begin work at the end of April, with the scheme expected to finish in the autumn.

Drivers will not be able to use the junction while the work is carried out. The council said the scale of the project means it is not possible to keep the road open, so a full closure and diversions will be in place throughout the build.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's lead member for transport and waste services, said the junction had been identified as a priority for some time. He said the statistics showed the work needed to be done, while accepting there would be disruption for drivers and nearby businesses during the closure.

Roads policing inspector Matt Boiles, of Avon and Somerset Police, said officers had attended a number of serious collisions at the junction and welcomed the plans to improve safety. He said safer road design, alongside education and enforcement, was vital in reducing the risk of people being killed or seriously injured.

The money for the scheme comes from Government capital grant funding allocated for road safety projects. It is one of the biggest road safety interventions currently planned near Wells.

advertisement

The closure is likely to have a major impact on regular drivers using routes in and out of the city from the West Horrington side. It comes as Wells has also been in the headlines this week for Wells swan Grace lays eggs at Bishop's Palace nest and Wells Cathedral plans Easter trail, crafts and café menu.

More local stories

• Wells Cathedral plans Easter trail, crafts and café menu
• Wells swan Grace lays eggs at Bishop's Palace nest

Subscribe to the free Wells Nub News newsletter Get the biggest Wells stories straight to your inbox.