Zebra Crossing to Improve Safety Near Frome School on Busy Street

New traffic lights are coming to Frome. They will appear on a busy street. Work starts Monday, February 17, for a zebra crossing, following a school street safety trial. That trial began April 22 and implemented road closures and calming, affecting residential streets in west Frome.

Residents mentioned dangers when crossing The Butts, near Somerset Road and Water Lane, wanting access to schools near Victoria Park. Frome Town Council and Somerset Council agreed, announcing in November 2024 that a crossing would be installed, funded by central government grants.

Somerset Council confirms work begins on Monday and is expected to take seven weeks, ending by April 5. Somerset Road will close between The Butts and Whitewell Road, with local diversions in place for drivers.

Expect temporary traffic lights affecting The Butts and Butts Hill for the entire construction period. The road will close overnight for resurfacing between March 31 and April 5. A pedestrian crossing linking Water Lane and Somerset Road will stay open, but two bus stops on The Butts will be closed.

The B3090 links Frome to Shepton Mallet and serves as the main route to the town center, serving new homes at Keyford Meadows.

The new crossing is part of cycle route 24, building on other route enhancements related to Frome’s Missing Links project. Sustrans, the active travel charity, funds the crossing, so Somerset taxpayers will not pay extra.

The new crossing includes raised and colored tarmac, speed bumps, and the addition of yellow lines, all following local resident input.