Multimillion works to resolve traffic chaos off motorway

Work on a multimillion-pound scheme to ease congestion on Portishead's traffic-clogged motorway roundabout will start this year.

North Somerset Council is working in partnership with developer Persimmon and the Highways Agency to carry out a £3 million package of improvements to junction 19 of the M5.

It is hoped the improvements will see an end to the long queues that form on the Portbury Hundreds and on the Bristol side of the A369 at peak times. Detailed plans for the scheme are now being drawn up and a consultation period with residents and town and parish councils is expected to start this summer.

Work is expected to start in November and take around 12 months to complete.

The work is being partly funded by developer Persimmon as part of a 106 planning agreement drawn up as a result of the huge housing development at The Ashlands in Portishead, together with a grant from Government as part of the Greater Bristol Bus Network major improvement scheme and cash from the council's Local Transport Plan.

The scheme will see new traffic signals installed on both junctions of the A369 with the roundabout.

A short additional lane will be created on the approach to the roundabout on the Portbury Hundreds and the roundabout carriageway will be re-marked to provide a second lane to get on to the M5. On the Portbury side of the roundabout, an additional lane will be created between Portbury High Street and the motorway roundabout.

Changes will be made to the junction of Portbury High Street, stopping drivers turning right on to the A369.

A high occupancy vehicle lane will also be created on the A369 to help traffic travelling out of Bristol.

Work will also be carried out to resurface the roundabout and replace the crash barriers.