CONTRACTORS will move on site on Monday evening (February 9) to start repairing the A396 Cutcombe Hill where a 10-year-old pupil died seven months ago in a school coach crash.

The A396 road near Wheddon Cross will be closed from 7 pm to 7 am nightly for the next three weeks after the project was switched from daytime to nighttime working.

The timing was changed to reduce disruption for local communities and the annual Snowdrop Valley festival, which is centred on Wheddon Cross and runs until late February.

The road will be open under two-way temporary traffic lights during the daytime and across weekends.

Traffic lights have been in place since the crash last July, when a coach came off the road as it carried Minehead Middle School pupils and staff back from an outing.

Somerset Council expects the repair works to be completed by Friday, February 27.

Council assistant highway service manager Kali Martin said ‘significant engineering works’ were required.

Mr Martin said the repair would see a stronger and more reliable solution installed, using king pin concrete anchors with a supporting concrete beam to ensure the long-term stability of the road.

He said the programme had been delayed because detailed ground investigations had shown that sheet piling would not be suitable for reinstating the verge edge and fencing.

Mr Martin said the road would be fully re-opened as soon as practicable.

He said the Cutcombe Hill project was being co-ordinated closely with the A39 Dunster traffic signal upgrade to ensure both schemes cold be carried out at the same time without compounding disruption on key local routes.

Mr Martin said: “If works finish earlier than expected, the road will be fully re-opened as soon as practicable.”