New Taunton Footbridge Installation Delayed Until 2026

Somerset Council has confirmed that the installation of a new footbridge in Taunton town centre will be postponed until early 2026. The approved project, initially planned for summer 2025, aims to replace the existing narrow footbridge over the River Tone that connects Morrisons supermarket with the Coal Orchard site.

The new bridge, chiefly funded by central government grants, will be significantly wider—measuring four metres across—to comply with the Department for Transport’s LTN 120 guidelines. This width will comfortably accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists simultaneously, eliminating the current need for cyclists to dismount when crossing. The north bank ramp will be replaced by steps, while the opposite side will feature a longer, gentler ramp for easier access.

Earlier proposals to build the bridge nearer to Somerset County Cricket Club were withdrawn after negative feedback from residents. Funding for the project primarily comes from the government’s Future High Streets Fund, which awarded almost £14 million to Taunton in December 2020 for various town improvements, including the Firepool boulevard and a crossing on the A38 Upper High Street.

Although much of this funding has been allocated, the council expects to complete surveys and design work by November 2025, after which a precise cost and timeline will be established. Additional funding, if needed, will be sourced via the community infrastructure levy from local housing developments. This levy will also support the replacement of a footbridge in Goodlands Gardens, a separate initiative led by Taunton Town Council.

A council spokesman stated: “We anticipate completing the design phase by November, with construction commencing early in 2026.” Town council officers estimate the cost of the Goodlands Gardens footbridge replacement to fall between £185,000 and £215,000, with a tender process forthcoming.