A MAJOR link road is set to shut for three months, sparking fury from local businesses.
The route connects to Junction 26 of the M5 in Somerset, and will be completely closed from Friday, June 16 until Tuesday, September 16, while £5.7 million of upgrade works are carried out.
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Local business owners Patrick and Carol Warren, who run a scaffolding firm based in the affected business park, say the disruption could cost them up to £14,000.
They’ve made an emotional plea to Somerset Council to delay or rethink the plans.
“Due to the nature of our work, the summer is already a challenging time,” they said.
“Traffic increases, accidents are more frequent, and we often lose whole days stuck in gridlock.
“Now with this closure, things will only get worse.”
The couple says the bulk of their business is along the M5 corridor, from Bristol to Exeter.
With the link to the motorway cut off, they expect longer travel times, missed appointments, and frustrated clients.
“We’ve calculated just one extra hour a day of travel will cost us £14,000 over the three months.
“That’s a modest estimate. It could be a lot worse,” they added.
“And that’s just us – a small local firm. Bigger companies could lose much more.”
The only alternative routes involve diversions through Taunton or Tiverton via the A38, which already struggles under normal traffic.
Locals are concerned this could create a bottleneck, leading to daily delays and road rage.
To make matters worse, the Warrens said they’ve been given conflicting information from authorities.
Somerset Council claimed they weren’t responsible for the motorway-related works and advised contacting National Highways.
But National Highways told them the scheme was, in fact, run by the council.
“Who do we turn to when both sides pass the blame?” the couple asked.
“No one seems to be taking responsibility – but we’re the ones left to pay the price.”
In response to criticism, the council defended its decision, insisting the work is long overdue and necessary.
Councillor Richard Wilkins said: “This is a major scheme which will see the complete renewal of the old link road and motorway roundabout.
“Everyone who uses this route knows how bad the road is.
“We’ve secured government funding and we’re grabbing this chance to finally fix it.”
He added: “There’s never a perfect time to do work like this.
“But continuing to patch up the road is no longer viable – it causes more long-term disruption and costs taxpayers more in the end.”
Still, local firms say they should not be made to bear the brunt.
“We understand the road needs repairs,” said Mr Warren.
“But the council should at least offer some support to businesses directly affected.”
With the closure now confirmed, drivers are being urged to plan ahead, follow diversion signs, and expect delays during peak periods.
Businesses in Wellington and the surrounding area are bracing for a tough summer.
“Losing a road like this is like cutting off our lifeline,” the Warrens said. “We just hope we can stay afloat.”
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