Work has begun on a £1.4million scheme which will protect dozens of homes and businesses in Weston-super-Mare from flooding.
The major scheme to the Summer Lane ponds and the surrounding ditches at Locking Castle was supposed to start in March but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The work will now take four weeks longer than the original 17 week timescale due to allow for social distancing safety measures to be put in place.
The scheme will give added protection to 85 homes and properties in the area at risk of flooding during heavy periods of rainfall.
It will give the affected area a protection level of a 'once in two hundred years' flood event.
The project includes building a new water storage area and joining ditches near the paths either side of the zebra crossing on Bransby Way, to help water flow away safely underneath Somerset Avenue.
To connect these ditches the road will close to allow the installation of a new pipe.
While the road is closed North Somerset Council will also replace damaged kerbs and make improvements for buses at the junction with Shrewsbury Bow and Bransby Way.
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The council's executive member for climate emergency and environment Bridget Petty said: "It's awful for anyone who suffers flooding.
“The council takes this very seriously and we're pleased to be able to get under way with this major scheme that will significantly reduce the risk of flooding in this area of Locking Castle.
“We have worked closely with our contractors Skanska to respond to current Government guidelines and adapt our project plans.
“By taking advantage of the road closure needed for this scheme to do other improvement works at the same time we are able to minimise disruption as much as possible.”
The scheme has been jointly funded by the council, the Environment Agency, the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and Wessex Water.
Full details of the road closure will be available at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/roadworks once finalised by engineers, which is expected to be in August.
A council spokesman said: “Current project plans may change in response to the continuing coronavirus situation.
“North Somerset Council will follow government advice to make sure residents, staff and contractors are kept as safe as possible.”
