Published: May 15, 2012
47-mile diversion swings into operation during Highbridge roadworks

Eight nights of controversial road closures through the centre Highbridge are underway this week.

The closure of Church Street from 6.30pm to midnight each weekday evening until May 23rd has hit the headlines because the county council has put in place a 47-mile diversion route around the area, which has been dubbed "the UK's longest diversion route".

Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported here on the diversion last week and the story was picked up by several national newspapers.

The County Council's 47.1 mile diversion route has baffled local residents since it directs motorists on a huge journey taking almost two hours, passing through Pawlett, Glastonbury, Wells, Rodney Stoke, Axbridge and East Brent.

County Council spokeswoman Elizabeth Kulh told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: "We're putting up signs for local people to use the industrial estate as well as signs for heavy traffic to use the motorway. We don’t believe anyone will use the formal 47 mile round trip but legally we need to have this in place."

"We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused but it is only for a short period and only affects the few."

"Because of narrow roads and weak bridges, we can't send lorries down rural roads. The law requires that we need to divert traffic on like-for-like roads i.e. an A road for an A road, B for B."