Roadworks which will close the main road close to Bristol Airport will continue tonight (May 23) in a project that will last until the end of the month. North Somerset Council is making improvements to the A38 at Redhill - very close to the two entrances to Bristol Airport, with drivers heading to the airport advised to plan ahead and make extra time.
The work began last night (May 22) and will continue again tonight, with the main road completely closed between 8pm and 6am. That could have a big impact on people flying from Bristol Airport, with so many flights now taking place in the first couple of hours of the day from 6am that there have been huge queues out of the airport terminal for people lining up to check in or get through security.
For people driving to Bristol Airport from Bristol itself, the A38 is open still, but for everyone coming up to the airport from the south, they face a diversion on the A370 via Weston-super-Mare and up to the South Bristol Link Road, to get back onto the A38 and south again towards the airport. The A38 is set to be closed every night until June 1, apart from this coming weekend, May 28 and 29.
Read more: Bristol Airport apologises after '90-minute' delays as only 'half security points' open
"The night-time road closures are necessary to ensure the work can be carried out safely," said North Somerset Council's executive member for transport and highways Cllr Steve Hogg. "Our contractors Milestone will be liaising with residents on a nightly basis and traffic marshalls will be on hand to help with any queries," he added.
The works are in preparation for surface dressing which is due to take place in early July, and the council is also taking the opportunity of the road closures to remove some ash trees adjacent to the road which are suffering from Ash Dieback, a fungal disease which is often fatal. A rapid decline in the health of these trees means urgent action is needed to remove them for safety reasons, a council spokesperson said.
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