Britain's longest-running road project will now pass the 100-year mark after another delay. The Banwell bypass in North Somerset, first proposed in 1927, is now not expected to open until late 2027, rather than the planned summer completion.
The scheme was only finally approved in 2023. A further six-month delay to water main diversion work means residents will have waited more than a century for the road.
Funding and rising costs
The project was initially backed with £56 million in government funding through Homes England. Its cost has since risen to more than £105 million after the original contractor pulled out.
North Somerset Council says the water main work must be completed before construction can progress, as the project involves extensive ground improvements, including piling.
Residents' frustration
The latest delay has frustrated residents who have spent decades waiting for traffic to be taken away from their village. Steve Voller, chairman of Banwell Parish Council, said: 'This delay extends the inconvenience and stress to those that live in the village and for anyone trying to get through it – especially at peak times.'
He also raised concerns about the impact of congestion on emergency services, saying he had seen an ambulance turn around because the village centre was at a standstill.
North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell said work was still progressing despite the setback. 'We continue to make good progress on site and the century-long wait will soon be over,' he said.
New routes and community hopes
The bypass will also include new routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, as well as woodland, wetland and grassland. The paths will connect with the Strawberry Line, a former railway line now used as a walking and cycling route.
Roy Rice, a lifelong Banwell resident and local historian, previously said his uncle Wally Richards helped survey the original route when he was just 11. 'My uncle, Wally Richards, when he was 11, helped the survey and put the pegs in of the original bypass plan,' he said. 'It was a different variation in 1927. He is no longer with us but I am sure he would be very surprised we are still talking about it 100 years later.'
Mr Rice said the bypass could make a huge difference to the village, where he believes around 30 to 40 shops have closed over the years as traffic made it difficult for people to stop. He hopes taking through-traffic away from the centre could help bring businesses back, although he acknowledged it would not solve every problem.
Studies suggest the bypass could cut traffic travelling through Banwell by up to 78%. Another lifelong resident, former councillor Wally Rice, 85, said he remembered discussions about the road dating back to his school days. He said: 'There has been 30/40 years of meetings about it and it never seemed like a viable option.' While he does not believe the scheme is perfect, he added: 'It is not a perfect solution but is a damn sight better than what we have at the moment.'
