Bruton roadworks delayed by 'unexpected discoveries'
Somerset Council say the Highways Team is working hard to complete the planned works after a sinkhole opened up and asbestos was discovered
Last updated 29th Jun 2024
Somerset Council say their highways teams are working hard to complete their planned maintenance programme in Briton - despite a number of 'significant challenges' being uncovered during the works.
Amid the challenges, the team discovered asbestos on the very first day of the upgrades underneath a traffic island on High Street.
Later that week, in a separate part of the very same road, a sinkhole formed, which forced a suspension of the works to allow for Combe Street to be reopened, so pressure could be relieved on the local road network.
The asbestos has since been removed.
Following these events, some utilities were found to have been installed shallower to the surface of the road than had been expected, whilst the highways team also discovered an historic drainage system under the road.
Efforts have been made to work around this old infrastructure, claim the local authority, who have been working with South West Heritage to complete the road improvements.
Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council’s Executive Lead Member for Transport and Digital said: “Firstly, thank you to everyone in and around Bruton for their patience and co-operation. We appreciate this has been challenging for all concerned.
“These works have not been easy to deliver for a variety of reasons, but the team is working as swiftly and as safely as they can to get everything done, and to bring disruption to traffic in Bruton to an end.”
A revised programme will now see Coombe Street closed as part of a small improvements scheme until Friday 18 August under a 24/7 closure.
The scheme will then move to High Street on Sunday 20 August, and the road will remain shut between the hours of 9:30am and 5pm until Friday 1 September.
A planned resurfacing scheme on Patwell Street will be undertaken between 6pm and 11:30pm excluding weekends, running from Thursday 24 August to Wednesday 30 August.
If you have any specific questions on the small improvements scheme in Bruton, you can contact Somerset Council by email.
Access for residents and businesses in the immediate area will be maintained throughout and a diversion will be in place, with full details available here.
If you spot a problem on the road you can report it here.