Somerset Council has announced that designing a new cycling link along Bridgwater’s bustling A39 Bath Road will cost approximately £78,000. This initiative is a key part of ongoing efforts to enhance walking and cycling infrastructure in the area.
In August 2024, the council shifted focus after cancelling the Cross Rifles roundabout upgrade, opting instead to improve active travel options along the A39 Bath Road. The proposed scheme aims to create a safer, continuous route connecting Bridgwater town centre to Bridgwater & Taunton College.
A central feature of the plan includes constructing a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the railway line. This link will integrate with the nearby pedestrian crossing at the college entrance, as well as provide easy access to local landmarks such as the McMillan Theatre and Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Football Club.
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Funding for the design and feasibility study will come from a central government grant provided through Active Travel England, a branch of the Department for Transport. The council is also seeking additional financing from government sources and local housing development contributions for the project’s implementation.
The council’s draft local transport plan, expected to be approved by spring 2026, commits to advancing the outline design stage for the Bath Road scheme within Bridgwater, covering the stretch from Union Street to Kings Drive and College Way to Fairfax Road. The shorter segment focuses on improving the link between the college and Fairfax Road, situated in a busy residential neighborhood near Wyndham Road.
The longer section is designed to offer an uninterrupted active travel corridor from pedestrianised Union Street along Bath Road, crossing over the railway, passing the Hinkley Point C workers’ campus, and ultimately connecting to Regal Walk as it transitions into Kings Drive. This area is close to the Evergreen Parade housing estate and Willowdown Primary School.
Notably, Kings Drive and Willow Walk already feature segregated pedestrian and cycle paths throughout their lengths. However, the current cycle lane presently ends just before the entrance to BFF Technical Fabrics.
At present, the Bath Road scheme remains at the feasibility stage, with the timeline for implementation and full cost estimates still unknown. A council spokesperson explained, “Just over £78,000 has been committed for design work; the total delivery cost will be determined at a later stage.”
The £78,000 design expense is part of a larger £684,781 grant awarded by Active Travel England. The remaining funds—approximately £607,000—are allocated for cycling and walking improvements along Taunton Road (B3187) in Wellington, which will coincide with the construction of the town’s new railway station.
Importantly, no local taxpayer money will be spent on this initial design phase.