Local MP Marcus Fysh’s campaign for improved safety on the Ilminster Bypass took a major step forward this week as Highways England confirmed a start date of 15th July for works on upgraded road markings and increased signage. The work is scheduled to take two weeks and will be done from 8pm – 6am to minimise disruption.
“I am really pleased to see action to make this stretch of road safer after some terrible accidents. I’ve spent a lot of time with the experts to understand the trends and causes of the collisions and I am really confident that improving driver awareness of the environment will make a big difference. Drifting across lanes is a major factor but it is important too that drivers are made aware that they cannot attempt u-turns from the laybys so there is going to be a big focus on that. Analysing traffic patterns and planning improvements takes time but I have been pushing for this since first being elected so I am delighted with the news about the start date and I hope any inconvenience to drivers over that fortnight is not too bad.
“The measures are designed to make the road safer in advance of the planned full dualling of the section. I am pressing for that to be in the second phase of works dualled after Sparkford to Ilchester, Stonehenge, and the A358 from Taunton to Ilminster.”