WORK at Gravity in Bridgwater is progressing and next month the focus is shifting to connecting the site to the A39 and main road network.

The low-carbon 635-acre site, which is based at Junction 23 of the M5, is expected to bring 4,000 jobs to the county.

The crucial work will require the closure of the A39 from Hillside to Hall Road on Puriton Hill while this next stage is carried out.

The closure will start on Monday, February 8 and will last until Sunday, February 21.

The road will be closed to all traffic at all times between these dates except for residents.

A diversion will be in place for motorists accessing or leaving Junction 23 from and to the Street direction.

Paul Lowndes, Gravity Project Director, said: “We fully understand this work will cause disruption and we’ll do everything in our power to carry this out as quickly as possible and push this exciting project towards its completion.

"We’ve worked closely with our fantastic local partners, including Puriton, Woolvington and Bawdrip Parish Councils, Sedgemoor District Council and Bridgwater Chamber of Trade, to make sure they’re fully up-to-date with the project.”

Gravity is asking residents to liaise with on-site staff with regard to access near the site.

During the road closure a suggested diversion route will be clearly signposted on site or can be found at www.thisisgravity.co.uk/communities and there’s an interactive map on Roadworks – Travel Somerset.

Councillor David Hall, Somerset County Council’s cabinet member for Economic Development, said: “Gravity will be a huge boost to the economy of Bridgwater and Somerset and the whole of the South West – it’s a fantastic state-of-the art low-carbon business campus which will really put us on the map in terms of attracting new and established businesses to the county.

"We appreciate there will be some short-term disruption while the A39 is closed for both residents and motorists heading to and from the M5, but the long term gain for the county is immense.”