No money for Somerset in government’s new road investment strategy
Somerset motorists face ongoing traffic woes as major road upgrades bypass county
No money has been committed to major new road projects in Somerset under the government’s new road investment strategy.
The Department for Transport (DfT) published its third road investment strategy (RIS3) on Thursday (March 26), outlining major road projects which would be prioritised across England up to 2031.
Several major schemes across the wider south west will be progressed during this period, including a new dual carriageway on the A417 near Gloucester and improvements to junction 28 of the M5 near Cullompton.
But no schemes in Somerset will be funded during this five-year period – meaning that congestion on the M5, the A303 and other major roads will continue to be a regular occurrence for local motorists.
Announcing the strategy, transport secretary Heidi Alexander MP said: “For too long this country has failed to tackle and fix our crumbling infrastructure, but this investment in our roads will secure the future of our road network in the south west for years to come.
“Not only are we investing in renewing our roads, meaning smoother and faster journeys for drivers, we are getting on with investing into brand new projects which will deliver benefits across the region, from Southampton all the way to Exeter.”
A map published by the DfT identified only one scheme within the Somerset Council area – the completed upgrade of the A303 between the Podimore and Sparkford roundabouts.
The closest schemes to Somerset are two unspecified “safely programmes” – one on the A303 west of Marsh in Devon (within the Blackdown Hills), and one on the A36 east of Frome, over the border in Wiltshire.
National Highways executive director Elliot Shaw said: “This major investment will help boost economic growth by improving and maintaining motorways and major A-roads which keep the country moving.
“When roads are well maintained, businesses and communities feel the benefit, so this funding enables us to tackle an ageing network head-on and keep drivers safe.
“Our focus on renewing vital infrastructure will keep people connected to their loved ones, support the delivery of new homes and jobs, and give industry the confidence to plan and invest in the UK.”
National Highways had put forward plans to dual the A358 between Taunton and Ilminster, but these were cancelled by chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves MP in October 2024 due to concerns that it would not provide value for money.
Following this decision, Yeovil MP Adam Dance has been pushing the government to upgrade the Southfields roundabout and dual the A303 between Ilminster and South Petherton – but neither element has been included within the new strategy.
The strategy also does not include the proposed junction 22a of the M5, which will serve the £4bn gigafactory being constructed by Agratas between Puriton and Woolavington.
Ian Gray, Somerset Council’s Gravity enterprise zone programme director, provided an update on this scheme when the council’s Gravity executive sub-committee met in Taunton on March 19.
He said in his written report: “Discussions on the development of the new Junction 22a of the M5 are ongoing with National Highways.
“It has been announced by National Highways that Costain has been appointed as the next stage contractor to devise the scheme further in line with the approval processes.
“The council has not seen as yet any detailed design, but officers are being kept informed of how the project is progressing via a series of working groups.”
The strategy does not include either National Highways’ M5 maintenance programme or smaller-scale schemes which have been funded by other sources – such as the pending £6.4m upgrade of the Edithmead roundabout in Highbridge (funded by through the DfT’s major road network scheme fund).