Weston-super-Mare M5 junction 21 plans announced
Plans have been unveiled to improve traffic flow on roads joining the M5 in Somerset at junction 21, the turn-off for Weston-super-Mare.
The £5m scheme aims to reduce traffic jams on the A370, which suffers from severe congestion at peak times as traffic approaches from the west.
It will add an extra lane to the B3440 which joins the A370, and new traffic lights will be installed.
Work is due to start in the autumn and be completed in 2014.
Conservative Elfan Ap Rees, who is in charge of transport at North Somerset Council, said: "We very successfully did works earlier this year at junction 19, the Portishead junction, which has made a tremendous difference there.
"Subject to the Department for Transport and the Highways Agency meeting our deadlines for funding we will be able to do the same thing here."
Mike Moore from the Road Haulage Association said: "Any improvements to help that junction are always appreciated. It is a nightmare on a daily basis.
"But I am concerned that the overall plan is not going to fully address the issues.
"Most of the problems are caused by the build up of traffic before you get to the junction and I'm not sure traffic lights and an extra lane is going to do very much to assist this."