JUNCTION 26 of the M5 – at Wellington – and the A38 Chelston link road will be closed for around three months during work to replace the failing roads.

A Government-funded Somerset Council Highways scheme is set to get underway in June and will replace the concrete roadways, which are deteriorating after being installed 51 years ago.

Council contractor Heidelberg Materials will be refurbishing Junction 26 of the M5 along with the A38 Chelston link road – and due to the depth of excavations required around the Junction 26 roundabout, will need both to be closed for around 14 weeks – from June 16 to mid to late September.

Access will be maintained to Foxmoor Business Park from Chelston Roundabout under Traffic Management but with some overnight and weekend closures.

The window and timescale for the work has been agreed with National Highways and is dictated by forthcoming M5 works, alongside the need to allow National Highways to access its gritting depot off the Chelston Link Road during winter, Somerset Council said.

To cut work times and carbon emissions, the contractor will use a technique known as rubblization to 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.

The method, often used on airport runways, will save 200 tonnes in carbon and around 1,130 lorry movements, compared to traditional road construction methods.

To keep the public informed, two public drop-in events will be held May in Wellington, on dates to be confirmed shortly. Another is scheduled for May 14 at West Buckland Parish Hall, from 4pm to 7pm.

Lead member for transport and waste services, Councillor Richard Wilkins, said: “This is a major scheme which will see the complete renewal of the old link road and motorway roundabout.

“Everyone who uses this route will be well aware of the state of the road. That’s why we are grabbing this opportunity with both hands, having successfully secured funding from Government. It has not been easy to find a suitable window to get this done due to its proximity to the M5, and the need for access to National Highways’ depot.

“This is the only feasible way to renew this vital road. Doing nothing would mean we continue to patch the road piecemeal as and when, and this not cost effective and means sporadic long disruption. We have the money from Government, and we want to get this done.

“However, we understand this will be disruptive and we are working closely with local businesses, community leaders and residents to ensure this is minimised as much as possible.

“The team will be meeting people at two drop-ins in Wellington and West Buckland to answer questions about the scheme and tackle any concerns.”