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Drivers face a fuel-guzzling 52-mile journey, leaving the council to repair just 546 feet of road
- Somerset County Council says the work on 546 yards of the A39 is ‘essential’
- Motorists will follow another 52-mile diversion while work is completed
Frustrated motorists will be forced to complete a fuel-guzzling 52-mile monstrous magical mystery tour through the Exmoor wilderness – so that a 546-yard (500-meter) stretch of road can be repaired.
Drivers will have to hope that their satnav will find their way through the maze of narrow, winding streets as they travel across two counties to reach their destination.
Somerset County Council will carry out repairs to the A39 Selworthy Road between Minehead and Porlock in March in two stages.
Traffic is diverted along the south side of the Dunkery Beacon and across the border into Devon.
During the road closures, traffic wishing to reach Porlock from the east will be diverted back through Minehead along the A39, take the A396 through Dunster and take the B3224 at Wheddon Cross.
Drivers will have to use a 52-mile diversion across the countryside
Traffic will be routed through the Exmoor wilderness with views of Dunkery Beacon
From there they head west along the B3223 and B3358 through Simonsbath, rejoining the A39 at Blackmoor Gate on the Devon side of Exmoor National Park and heading east via Lynton and Lynmouth – a diversion that will extend their journey for as long as 83 miles longer.
The council said: ‘The work has been timed to minimize disruption and is essential to ensure that drains and gullies are in good working order.
On March 6 and 10, the highways team will carry out preparatory work, with the road closed daily between 9:30 and 15:00, with temporary traffic lights in effect outside these times.
“All trucks over 17 tonnes and/or over 9.5m in length that need to pass this section of road will be held in waiting areas, where access will be granted daily between 13:00 and 13:30. Emergency services can drive through the site unimpeded.
Between 13 and 16 March, the road will be closed between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. to allow nighttime asphalting work.
Coun Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for transport and digital, said: ‘We have postponed these works to find a more appropriate time so that the closures have less impact on road users.
‘The work is essential – we are improving the sewage system and making repairs. However, we understand that there will still be disruption and so carrying out these works outside peak hours is likely to limit this.
Our team will do everything we can to keep this to a minimum. Our team will be contacting residents and businesses in the immediate area to make sure they have all the information they need. Check the details of the detour and plan ahead if you use this route regularly.’