JUNCTION 26 of the M5 motorway and its Chelston link road is set to reopen at the end of next week.

The planned reopening over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7, will be three weeks earlier than expected.

The motorway junction and the road to Chelston roundabout has been closed since mid-June while Somerset Council carries out a £5.7 million resurfacing project.

A council spokesperson said the early reopening was possible because of a combination of overnight and extended working, and the use of innovative techniques.

They said the project team prioritised work which would enable the road to reopen as soon as possible.

Work will now be completed after the road closures have been lifted.

Wellington Mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd welcomed the news, which she said would be a huge relief for local businesses and everybody else affected by the closure.

Cllr Lloyd said: “I am delighted the junction and link road is being reopened, it is something we all have been looking forward to.

“Thankfully, traffic congestion on the A38 has not been as bad as feared but I know there has been considerable disruption to everyday life for many people.

“So, getting the roads reopened early is very welcome and I congratulate Somerset Council and the contractors for enabling this.

“We know the work had to be done, but nobody could accept it was going to take as long as three months as they originally planned.”

Somerset executive Cllr Richard Wilkins said: “We pledged to do everything in our power to keep disruption to a minimum, and it is fantastic news that the A38 and motorway junction will reopen well ahead of schedule.

“We appreciate this has been a hugely challenging project to deliver and we are very grateful to local communities, businesses, and the travelling public for their patience.”