00:00For people living in Banwell, the promise of a bypass has been passed down through generations.
00:07What began as a proposal in 1927 has become one of Britain's longest running road projects
00:14and even now, with work underway, the finish line has moved further away.
00:20The village in North Somerset has struggled with severe traffic congestion for decades.
00:25At busy times, roads through the centre can become so congested that getting through is a major challenge for drivers
00:33and residents.
00:34The bypass was finally approved in 2023, raising hopes that the long-running problem could at last be addressed.
00:43But the project has faced significant difficulties since then.
00:47The original funding figure was £56 million, provided through the government body Homes England.
00:54However, costs have now since risen to more than £105 million, with the original contractor pulling out along the way.
01:04And now, there's another delay.
01:06North Somerset Council has confirmed that work to divert water mains must be completed before the main construction can progress.
01:14The council says the bypass involves a range of ground improvements, making those waterworks an important part of the process.
01:22The later setback is expected to push the opening back from summer 2027 to later on in the year.
01:29The water main diversion work is adding a further six months' wait.
01:34For people living in the village, that means more time dealing with congestion that the bypass is supposed to have
01:40solved.
01:42Banwell Parish Council Chairman Steve Voller says the delay extends the inconvenience and stress for residents and anyone trying to
01:50travel through the village, particularly at peak times.
01:53He's also raised concerns about the impact on emergency services.
01:57He described seeing an ambulance having to turn around because traffic had brought the middle of the village to a
02:02standstill.
02:02But despite the frustration, there's still considerable hope about what the finished road could achieve.
02:09Studies have suggested the bypass could reduce traffic passing through Banwell by as much as 78%.
02:16Local historian Roy Rice, who's lived in the village all his life, remembers how the original plans were discussed almost
02:23a century ago.
02:24North Somerset Council Leader Mike Bell says good progress continues on site and insists the century-long wait will soon
02:31be over.
02:32He also points to the wider benefits, including new routes for walking, cycling and horse riding, connections to the Strawberry
02:38Line, and plans for a new woodland, wetland and grassland.
02:42For Banwell, the bypass is about much more than a new stretch of road.
02:46It represents a promise that has taken generations to reach construction.
02:51Residents are now waiting to see whether the latest target will finally bring that promise to reality.
