{"id":80119,"date":"2017-03-28T12:30:20","date_gmt":"2017-03-28T12:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=55bc1ff2c15359460bbf21377fe54b34"},"modified":"2017-03-28T12:30:20","modified_gmt":"2017-03-28T12:30:20","slug":"news-story-new-route-to-provide-better-journeys-in-somerset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=80119","title":{"rendered":"News story: New route to provide better journeys in Somerset"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

A new route to upgrade a major south-west road has been proposed today (28 March 2017) by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.<\/p>\n

The A358 between the M5 at Taunton and the A303 Southfields will be made into a dual carriageway, leading to quicker journeys for motorists.<\/p>\n

Currently, the road is a mix of single and dual carriageway, leading to bottlenecks and congestion. It also carries more vehicles than it was designed for, causing further delays.<\/p>\n

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:<\/p>\n

\n

We are spending \u00a315 billion on upgrading our major roads \u2013 the biggest investment in a generation.<\/p>\n

This latest announcement is the next stage in our commitment to deliver improvements to the south-west. The A358 is a key route between the south-west and London and provides a vital link to Somerset communities. A dual carriageway will help existing businesses thrive and create opportunities for new companies as well as boosting tourism.<\/p>\n

The upgraded route is long overdue, but we are now taking action to cut congestion on the A358 to give motorists quicker, safer and more reliable journeys.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The government is also improving the nearby A303 at Stonehenge<\/a> and between Sparkford and Ilchester.<\/p>\n

Today, Highways England started its consultation into the A358 upgrade<\/a>. It will close on 20 May.<\/p>\n

Jim O\u2019Sullivan, chief executive of Highways England, said:<\/p>\n

\n

This scheme will take us a step closer to transforming the A303\/A358 corridor into a new type of strategic road which is as safe and reliable as a motorway and where fast and reliable journeys are the norm.<\/p>\n

Our consultation and programme of public exhibitions will give everyone a chance to hear more about the proposal and tell us what they think of our plans to deliver the scheme.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The route would see the existing road upgraded between Southfields and West Hatch, where it will split into a new dual carriageway linking with M5 at a new junction at Shoreditch.<\/p>\n

A new junction on the M5 would help support major development opportunities south of Taunton.<\/p>\n

Alongside the upgraded road will be enhanced provision for cyclists, equestrians and pedestrians.<\/p>\n

This consultation is your opportunity to express your views on the proposals ahead of
\nfurther development work.<\/p>\n

A preferred route will be announced this winter, with work starting in spring 2020.<\/p>\n

View the proposed route options at the following events:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date<\/th>\nVenue<\/th>\nTime<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Friday 7 April 2017<\/td>\nHatch Beauchamp Village Hall, Chestnut View, Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton TA3 6TH<\/td>\n10:00am to 6.00pm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saturday 8 April 2017<\/td>\nTaunton Racecourse, Orchard Portman, Taunton TA3 7BL<\/td>\n10:00am to 6.00pm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monday 10 April 2017<\/td>\nHoliday Inn, Deane Gate Avenue, Somerset, UK TA1 2UA<\/td>\n12:00 to 8.00pm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tuesday 11 April 2017<\/td>\nMonks Yard, Horton Cross Farm, Ilminster TA19 9PT<\/td>\n12:00 to 8.00pm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monday 8 May 2017<\/td>\nHoliday Inn, Deane Gate Avenue, Somerset, UK TA1 2UA<\/td>\n10:00am to 5.00pm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Consultation materials will be available to view from 28 March until 20 May 2017 during normal opening hours at the following places:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Taunton Deane Borough Council, The Deane House, Belvedere Rd, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1HE<\/li>\n
  • Taunton Library, Paul Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3XZ<\/li>\n
  • Somerset County Council, County Hall, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DY<\/li>\n
  • South Somerset District Council, Brympton Way, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2HT<\/li>\n
  • Ilminster Town Council, Council Offices\/North St, Ilminster, Somerset, TA19 0DG<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    \n
    \n

    Roads media enquiries<\/h3>\n
    \n
    \n

    \n Press enquiries<\/span>
    \n 020 7944 3021\n <\/p>\n

    \n Out of hours<\/span>
    \n 020 7944 4292\n <\/p>\n

    \n Switchboard<\/span>
    \n 0300 330 3000\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    A358 upgrade to boost business and tourism in south-west.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80119"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=80119"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80119\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=80119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=80119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=80119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}