A planned major upgrade to one of Bridgwater’s busiest junctions, the Cross Rifles roundabout, has been cancelled due to concerns over limited traffic benefits and substantial disruption, a senior Somerset councillor revealed.
The Cross Rifles roundabout connects key routes including the A38 Bristol Road from the M5 motorway, the A39 Bath Road near the planned gigafactory site, the A38 Broadway, and The Clink leading to Bridgwater Retail Park. It was initially part of a £10 million investment under the government’s levelling up fund announced in 2021 to improve Bridgwater’s northern corridor.
However, rising costs and delivery challenges led Somerset Council to redirect the remaining funding to the Dunball roundabout upgrade near the motorway, which was completed in November 2025. This decision sparked criticism from local Conservative councillors and Bridgwater MP Sir Ashley Fox, who accused the council of causing gridlock in the town.
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Defending the decision, Council Portfolio Holder Richard Wilkins confirmed that proper governance was followed. He explained that the original scheme would have required significant land acquisition and caused up to 18 months of severe traffic disruption, with only limited improvements to traffic flow. Wilkins also criticized the MP for pushing for the upgrade despite knowing the extent of disruption it would cause.
Sir Ashley Fox had raised the issue in the House of Commons, highlighting the negative impact on residents who now face increased congestion and longer journeys following the introduction of a new one-way system alongside the cancellation of the upgrade. He called for a parliamentary debate on holding councils accountable when cancelling government-funded infrastructure projects without providing alternatives.
While acknowledging the importance of local infrastructure, Leader of the House Sir Alan Campbell stated he would bring the case to the Department for Transport’s attention and suggested that upcoming legislative opportunities might allow for scrutiny of council decisions.
The council insists that while the Cross Rifles upgrade has been shelved, some safety-related improvements from the scheme will still be implemented to benefit local drivers without causing extensive disruption.