Work on the long-planned Banwell bypass in North Somerset is progressing on site, with contractors now visible cutting the route that will divert traffic away from the village. The scheme, costing £105 million, is intended to remove the heavy through-traffic that has for decades blighted Banwell’s main streets.
What is being built and why
The bypass will run north of Banwell in a curving, M-shaped line of about three and a half kilometres. Only a short section has been surfaced so far and it is currently used by construction traffic. When fully opened the road will carry a maximum limit of 40mph; during construction a temporary 10mph limit applies to vehicles using the new section.
Two main A-roads currently channel large volumes of traffic through Banwell. At one point these vehicles must pass through a narrow single-track section of the village road, known locally as “the narrows”, producing lengthy queues, incidents of vehicles striking buildings and concerns about speeding and safety for residents.
"the narrows"
Environment and engineering
The route crosses about 20 watercourses, from small remes to the River Banwell. Contractors are installing large culverts to carry these watercourses beneath the embankment; in at least one location a shelf is being provided to allow mammals to pass under the road alongside the water. Other environmental mitigation measures are also being implemented along the corridor.
Delivery and timeline
Work on the main construction phase began in March 2025. The project is being delivered by contractors Galliford Try and it is funded jointly by Homes England and North Somerset Council. The current programme anticipates completion in November 2027 — a century after a bypass was first proposed for Banwell in 1927.
- Short section already tarmacked for construction access
- Temporary 10mph construction limit to become 40mph on opening
- Measures included to protect watercourses and enable wildlife crossings
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost | £105 million |
| Length | 3.5 km (approx) |
| Start of main construction | March 2025 |
| Expected completion | November 2027 |
| Contractor | Galliford Try |
| Funders | Homes England; North Somerset Council |
For residents of Banwell, the bypass is billed as a long-awaited relief from congestion and the dangers posed by heavy vehicles in the village centre. During construction, however, local people will continue to see disruption related to site traffic and works along the new route.
As the project advances, attention will turn to the final surfacing, landscaping and completion of the environmental measures promised along the route. The council and contractors will need to ensure those elements are completed before the road opens to the public to meet the aims of reducing traffic through Banwell while protecting the surrounding countryside.
