TRAFFIC chaos caused by the controversial day-time closure of a stretch of the A39 is set to end sooner than expected.

In the wake of a barrage of complaints about the knock-on effect of one of West Somerset's main arterial routes being out of bounds to motorists, highway chiefs announced on Wednesday that the closures would end today (Friday).

The road has been closed from 9am to 3.30pm on weekdays for the past fortnight to allow vital work to improve drainage at a notorious flooding blackspot at Dragon's Cross near Bilbrook.

And the closures were due to continue until next Friday.

But Somerset County Council said the work was progressing so well, with the majority now completed, that next week's closures would not be necessary.

However, although diversions will no longer be in place from Monday, motorists could still face delays as there will be temporary traffic signals until the scheme is finished.

County council cabinet member for highways Cllr Harvey Siggs described the lifting of the day-time closures as "super news".

"We said before work started that we would only close the road if absolutely necessary and I'm pleased to say we are now able to reopen while we finish the job."

Cllr Siggs praised the highway teams for pulling out all the stops to ensure the important project could be finished ahead of schedule.

"I would also like to thank all the local businesses and residents for their co-operation and patience while work was taking place," he said.

"While very effort has been made to minimise the disruption caused, we do appreciate that some will have been inconvenienced.

"Hopefully this work will prevent emergency closures in the future."

The news was greeted with relief by Cllr Loretta Whetlor, mayor of Watchet, which has borne the brunt of the chaos on the surrounding roads.

Although the official diversion route for cars and light vehicles was via Raleghs Cross to rejoin the A39 at Dunster Steep, the detour for buses was a shorter route through the narrow lanes and streets of Blue Anchor and Watchet.

And some lorries have been using the shorter route, causing congestion and chaos in Watchet.

"The fact that we will no longer have to put up with all this extra traffic coming through the town is very good news and I am hugely relieved," siad Cllr Whetlor.

"The last fortnight has been absolutely horrendous. "We've had buses unable to pass each other, lorries mounting the pavement, a sign knocked off Lloyds Bank and endless complaints from people."

Town councillors were so concerned about the problems they summoned David Peake, highway services manager for the West Somerset area, to speak to them on Monday evening.

Mr Peake, who went along before the council's monthly meeting with engineering programmes manager Karin Harwood, was left in no doubt about the impact of the road closure.

Cllr Dave Westcott said the police should be stopping lorries from using the Blue Anchor to Watchet route.

And Cllr Whetlor warned that she feared for the safety of pedestrians, particularly people using mobility scooters.

Councillors were told to encourage people to get the number plates of any vehicles mounting the pavement, since that was a police matter.

But Mr Peake said it was legally impossible for the police or highways staff to stop HGVs and other large vehicles from using the route through Watchet: "They are not breaking the law," he said.

Councillors were told that local businesses which operated or were served by large vehicles had been contacted in advance about the road closure.

"We asked them to time their journeys outside of the closure or to coincide with the times the larger vehicles were allowed through, "said Mr Peake.

The Road Hauliers Association had also been notified of the disruption and the feedback from all had been positive.

The road closure has also sparked complaints from residents in other West Somerset towns and villages as long delays - even when the road was open - caused people to be late for work, hospital appointments and college.

Many called for the work to be carried out at night but highways chiefs ruled it out on safety grounds.