UK’s longest running road project will now pass 100 years after further delay

Banwell, in North Somerset, has struggled with heavy traffic for decades (Picture: Tom Wren/SWNS) Britain’s longest-running road project has been delayed yet again, meaning residents will have to wait more than 100 years for a bypass first proposed in 1927. Banwell, in North Somerset, has struggled with heavy traffic for generations, with congestion making the village centre a nightmare for drivers and residents. Plans for a bypass were first put forward almost a century ago, but the scheme was only finally approved in 2023. Now, a further six-month delay to water main diversion work means the road is not expected to open until later in 2027, rather than the planned summer completion. The project was initially backed with £56million in government funding through Homes England, but its cost has since risen to more than £105million after the original contractor pulled out. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. North Somerset Council says the water main work must be completed before construction can progress, as the project involves extensive ground improvements, including piling. Britain’s longest-running road project has been delayed yet again (Picture: Tom Wren/SWNS) Residents of Banwell will have to wait more than 100 years for a bypass first proposed in 1927 (Picture: Tom Wren/SWNS) The latest delay has frustrated residents who have spent decades waiting for traffic to be taken away from their village. Steve Voller, chairman of Banwell Parish Council, said: ‘This delay extends the inconvenience and stress to those that live in the village and for anyone trying to get through it – especially at peak times.’ He also raised concerns about the impact of congestion on emergency services, saying he had seen an ambulance turn around because the village centre was at a standstill. North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell said work was still…