Vital road upgrades near M5 delayed amid money issues
Upgrades to a vital roundabout near the M5 in Somerset may be delayed as a result of inflationary pressures.
The Dunball roundabout links junction 23 of the M5 to Bridgwater[1] town centre via the A38 Bristol Road, as well as handling traffic from the A39 to and from Glastonbury[2]. Somerset County Council[3] and Sedgemoor District Council[4] jointly developed plans to turn the roundabout into a signalised “through-about” to improve traffic flows, funded by central government grants.
Initial work to clear vegetation on the roundabout began in February[5], with the £5.3m scheme originally expected to take 12 months to implement. But Somerset Council[6] has now said the completion date may be pushed back as the detailed designs for the scheme are finalised.
The through-about involves building a new road through the centre of the roundabout[8], allowing traffic between the two busiest points to move straight across, freeing up space that could be filled by other drivers. The new road will run through the middle of the roundabout to directly connect the A38 with the motorway junction, allowing smoother journeys for commuters and unlocking several sites for new homes and commercial development.
The design will be broadly similar to the Bunford through-about which was delivered as part of the Yeovil western corridor upgrades in February 2019[9]. The majority of the funding for the scheme will come from the government’s levelling up fund, following a successful bid in late-2021[10], with £400,000 being levered in from the Bridgwater town deal[11].
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The official Travel Somerset[13] roadworks portal still lists the scheme as being due to finish on February 1, 2024 – but the council has confirmed that this may change. A spokesman said: “The design is currently being finalised and this important stage has been completed within budget.
“Inflationary costs are a well-documented issue within the UK construction sector and we are working with our supply chain to gain a full understanding of forecast construction costs. We are not in a position to judge any potential impact on this project until we move into the next phase.
“We should shortly be able to provide an updated project time-line.” In addition to improving the road, the scheme will see improved pedestrian and cycling links to and from Bridgwater, building on the A38 active travel corridor between the Express Park and Saltlands Bridge which opened to the public in November 2022[14].
This new cycle route will eventually stretch all the way to the Gravity enterprise zone[15] between Puriton and Woolavington as part of the Bridgwater local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP)[16].
The possible delay to the Dunball roundabout upgrade comes after the council confirmed the improvements to the Cross Rifles roundabout in the town centre will not begin until early-2025[17].
References
- ^ Bridgwater (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Glastonbury (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Somerset County Council (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Sedgemoor District Council (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Initial work to clear vegetation on the roundabout began in February (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Somerset Council (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Two men fled M5 after hay trailer overturned (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ building a new road through the centre of the roundabout (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ delivered as part of the Yeovil western corridor upgrades in February 2019 (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ following a successful bid in late-2021 (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ £400,000 being levered in from the Bridgwater town deal (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ here (bit.ly)
- ^ Somerset (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ which opened to the public in November 2022 (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ the Gravity enterprise zone (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ the Bridgwater local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP) (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ improvements to the Cross Rifles roundabout in the town centre will not begin until early-2025 (www.somersetlive.co.uk)