Town's key road to M5 may finally get £5m upgrade

The road in Somerset is known locally as the concrete carriageway

A £5m upgrade to a road linking a growing town and a motorway could begin next year after multiple delays.

The roadworks would see the roundabout at junction 26 of the M5 and the Chelston Link Road to Wellington - dubbed locally as the concrete carriageway - improved and resurfaced.

Somerset Council said the design work for the project is complete and construction could start in spring 2025.

The scheme has faced numerous delays since the Department for Transport handed £5m to the then Somerset County Council in 2020.

'Work in progress'

The road, which was built in the 1970s, has previously been described to make a "rattle" as cars drive over.

Somerset Council officers want to ensure the upgrade does not clash with other major improvements to the M5 being carried out by National Highways, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Speaking in a council meeting on December 18, councillor Richard Wilkins said the road has "reached the end of its design life" and needs to be replaced.

Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport on the council, added discussions are under way to plan the works with a contractor.

A council spokesman said: "This is still a work in progress and we will publish more details when we have a confirmed programme."