SOMERSET County Council has taken swift action after severe weather caused damage to a key road in West Somerset – the A358 at Sampford Brett.

Temporary traffic lights are in place while extensive investigative works take place into structural damage to the road’s foundations.

These have been caused by prolonged wet and cold weather during March – which this week was revealed as the fifth wettest on record. CCTV surveys and jetting work has been undertaken to establish what is causing the problem.

Cllr John Woodman, county council cabinet member for highways, said: “Our number one priority is to keep people safe and we’ve had to react quickly.

“It’s not ideal to have temporary lights in place but it does mean we can continue to keep the road open which minimises disruption to the travelling public.

“Significant future works could be required and we’ll share details of these when known. In the meantime, we’ll be working hard to find an engineering solution and will carry out the necessary repairs as soon as possible.”

The temporary traffic lights are likely to remain in place for the next couple of weeks to keep road users safe while investigations continue. It is possible that temporary repairs may be required until a more extensive, permanent solution can be arranged. 

Updates on travel conditions can be received by following @TravelSomerset on Twitter or visiting www.travelsomerset.co.uk.