A KEY section of Bridgwater’s walking and cycling network will not be upgraded as part of a multi-million-pound revamp of the Dunball roundabout.

Somerset Council confirmed on Friday afternoon (October 4) that a year-long programme of roadworks to upgrade the roundabout into a ‘through-about’ (cutting journeys between Bridgwater and the M5) would finally get under way on November 11.

As part of the upgrade, new shared use paths for pedestrians and cyclists will be created around the roundabout and leading off from it, linking up with existing provision and helping to deliver part of a wider route leading to the town centre.

But the council has confirmed that an existing active travel route which runs along the River Parrett between the roundabout and the Express Park will not be improved as part of this upgrade.

The Dunball scheme forms part of the ‘purple route’ within the Bridgwater local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP), which will eventually reach from the Gravity site to the town centre via the Puriton footbridge, the River Parrett and the Northgate Docks.

Cyclists travelling south from Dunball towards the town centre currently have to negotiate a narrow section along the A38 Bristol Road over the King’s Sedgemoor Drain before joining a wider shared use path along the main road towards the Express Park.

From this point, travellers have two choices: to follow the shared path along Bristol Road to the Express Park, or take a quieter, more scenic route along the River Parrett towards the planned site of the Bridgwater tidal barrier.

While the Bristol Road route is largely smooth Tarmac, the River Parrett route (which forms part of the King Charles II England Coast Path) has a more stony surface.

Both paths form part of the ‘purple route’ and converge at the barrier site via the Express Park, after which travellers can head south along the river to Saltlands Bridge  (via a section which was upgraded in November 2022) and then pick up the soon-to-be-completed Linham Road link to the docks (which will themselves be regenerated by early-2026).

A short section of the southbound riverside path has been indefinitely closed as the barrier’s construction begins to ramp up; however, a diversion is in place through the Express Park.

The council has confirmed that the northern riverside link – which skirts by the Peninsula 23 employment site – will not be resurfaced or otherwise enhanced during the year-long Dunball upgrade.

A spokesman said: “The scheme does not include upgrading the English Coast Path link between the Dunball roundabout and the tidal barrier site.”

Centregreat is delivering the Dunball roundabout upgrade as part of a £10.7m contract, which is primarily funded by the government’s levelling up fund with contributions from the Bridgwater town deal, National Highways (which manages the M5) and housing developers.

Of the £10.7m allocated for the scheme, just over £6.6m will be specifically directed towards the Dunball roundabout and changes to the Cross Rifles roundabout (where the A38 Bristol Road meets the A39 Bath Road).

To save money in the years ahead, this contract can be extended to include the planned £6.4m upgrade of the Edithmead roundabout in Highbridge and other nearby improvements to the A38 heading towards Bristol Airport.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said: “Dunball comes at a busy time for Bridgwater with major ongoing work on two important schemes in the area – the Celebration Mile and the Agratas power supply works.

“These projects represent a big investment in the area, but also bring significant pressure on the road network in and around Bridgwater.

“Ideally, the work would be staggered, but all the projects are highly time-sensitive and in the case of the Celebration Mile and Dunball, funding must be spent within a certain time-scale.

“This is a challenging time and we understand there will be concerns locally.

“We will be working hard to ensure works can be coordinated in a way that reduces disruption as much as possible.

“Ultimately this is about an incredibly positive future for Bridgwater and Somerset.”

Most of the Dunball improvements will be implemented using lane closures and temporary traffic signals, to reduce the immediate impact on drivers

However, some short-term evening closures will be required in early-2025, specifically on the A39 link road between the roundabout and junction 23.

During this time, motorists will still be able to enter and exit the M5 via J23, following diversion routes – the details of which will be published before the end of the year.