Thank you Bath & West Drones for this footage showing the huge scale of the gridlock through Radstock last night (January 24) at rush hour.

Or as you see, not rushing hour, this footage is from around 5pm.

The council issued a press release today explaining the reasoning behind the works, which have been made worse because traffic signals are being replaced on Radstock Road.

It stated:

Bath & North East Somerset Council is advising people plan their journeys if travelling through Radstock due to the emergency repair of a gas leak by Wales & West Utilities coinciding with planned works, already under way, by the council to upgrade a pedestrian crossing.

Wales & West Utilities is making emergency repairs to a gas leak with motorists experiencing delays due to the closure of the A362 Frome Road and three-way temporary signals in place on the A367 roundabout. They hope to complete and re-open the affected roads by the weekend. Updates on these works can be seen on one.network.

The Council is currently replacing a traffic signal crossing on Radstock Road. Crossings like this one have a design life of 15 years, the existing signals were installed more than 25 years ago and replacement parts have become increasingly difficult to source or are no longer available for repairs if a fault develops.

Temporary traffic management is in place for these works, with two-way temporary traffic signals operating on Radstock Road. Station Road has been closed at its junction with Radstock Road at Stone Cross roundabout to allow the works to progress safely and prevent large vehicles from taking a tight turning and encroaching onto the work site. A short diversion route is in place and can be seen on one.network. The works are expected to be complete by Friday 2 February. 

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: "The emergency works to repair a gas leak on Wells Road by Wales & West are essential safety works that could not be foreseen and have unfortunately coincided with the replacement of the traffic signal crossing on Radstock Road. This has presented us with a complex and disruptive traffic management layout, and we apologise for the inconvenience it is causing. Wales & West are aware of the need to complete the repairs as quickly as possible.

"We're continually investing in our highway infrastructure and the upgrade to the pedestrian crossing is part of our Transport Improvement Programme. With the crossing far exceeding its design life expectancy of 15 years, an upgrade is necessary due to ongoing maintenance challenges."

Once the installation of the new crossing is complete the carriageway will be resurfaced with new road markings added.