WORK to make safer a notorious accident blackspot on the A38 between Wellington and Taunton is finally slated to start during August.

Parish councillors in West Buckland have for decades pressed for improvements to the Heatherton Grange crossroads, where restricted visibility gives drivers coming out of Silver Street just seconds to make a decision.

Many fearful West Buckland residents instead choose to leave from the other end of the village via Sawyers Hill to reach the M5 slip road to Chelston.

Suggestions for a roundabout, or traffic lights, or a rerouting of Silver Street to meet the A38 on a straight section with better visibility have all been rejected because of the expensive engineering work involved.

Somerset Council’s only answer was to reduce the A38 speed limit from 50 mph to 40 mph, which did little to resolve the problem of traffic volume with small gaps between vehicles.

But earlier this year the entire A38 from Wellington to Taunton was resurfaced apart from the crossroads, which also accommodates the Bradford Road junction for Bradford on Tone and a smaller road leading to Heatherton Park.

The junction was left untouched to allow council contractors to carry out a detailed inspection for improvement works to be considered.

Now, Torquay-based contractors D&B Civils Ltd will carry out junction re-alignment works on behalf of Ward Williams LLP, Taylor Wimpey, and Vistry Consortium from August 10 until September 18.

During the project the firm will widen the road, resurface it, lay high friction surfaces, and install new signs and lines.

The project is being funded with money from the developers of the massive Orchard Grove housing site near Taunton.

The scheme will see road closures and temporary traffic lights in use which will add to disruption for motorists caused by emergency sewer repairs and drainage improvements on the same stretch of A38.