CONTROVERSIAL work to replace and upgrade traffic signals on the busy A39 at Dunster has been completed ahead of schedule and in time for Easter.

Somerset Council said the project was ‘essential’ because the traffic lights had been in service for more than 30 years and were at the end of their operational life.

It said ongoing maintenance was no longer viable, and the risk of sudden failure posed a significant threat of unplanned disruption for residents, businesses, and visitors.

The council said a ‘do nothing’ approach was not an option, so it planned and delivered the scheme during a time of low traffic flows on the busy route to try to minimise disruption.

However, the authority was heavily criticised for allowing contractors to take three months to do the job when many considered better planning could have seen it completed in weeks.

There were complaints about queues of traffic stretching for miles and delays of nearly an hour to reach Minehead.

The new traffic lights were commissioned on Wednesday (April 1), with the last of the temporary traffic management removed ahead of the Easter weekend.

The council said the lights would be monitored over the next few weeks to ensure they were operating effectively.

Somerset executive Cllr Richard Wilkins said: “This has been a challenging project to deliver on a busy road with few alternative routes.

“Therefore I am pleased we have been able to accelerate the programme and complete the works ahead of schedule and in time for the Easter holidays.

“We would like to thank the West Somerset community for their patience and support.

“Doing nothing was not an option, and by working together we have been able to upgrade this important junction and ensure it is resilient and efficient for the future.”