Somerset Council’s ambitious plan to upgrade the A38 corridor between Highbridge and Bristol Airport faces significant challenges due to a proposed pedestrian bridge at Shute Shelve. The busy crossing, integral to the Strawberry Line cycle path, currently managed with traffic lights, has sparked debate over safety and efficiency.
The Strawberry Line Society advocates for replacing the existing crossing with a footbridge similar to one recently installed in Shepton Mallet. Such a bridge would create a safer passage for over 150,000 pedestrians and cyclists annually and improve traffic flow by separating vulnerable road users from heavy vehicles.
However, Somerset Council, working in partnership with North Somerset Council, has announced that incorporating a new bridge into the current upgrade schemes would delay the overall project by up to a year. This delay would jeopardize critical government funding and disrupt planned improvements like the Edithmead roundabout enhancement.
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The existing crossing lies at the edge of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and features a cramped “sheep pen” layout, forcing pedestrians and cyclists to share limited space near fast-moving traffic. Chairman of the Strawberry Line Society, Mick Fletcher, criticizes the planned traffic light solution, arguing it insufficiently protects vulnerable users and worsens congestion on this steep stretch of the road.
Fletcher contends that a pedestrian bridge would eliminate these issues, providing a level and safe crossing suitable for wheelchairs and reducing road hazards. He also suggests that additional funding sources, such as contributions related to the Cheddar Two reservoir project, could cover the estimated £1 million bridge cost, which, although higher than the signalisation price, offers better long-term value.
While Somerset Council supports the concept of a pedestrian bridge in principle, it clarifies that including it now is financially and logistically unfeasible. The current upgrade package is government-funded with a fixed budget and scope, and late changes risk both delays and increased costs affecting all stakeholders.
The final business case for the A38 improvements will be submitted to the Department for Transport in December, with construction tentatively planned to begin in June 2026 and finish by summer 2027. Until then, the debate continues over the best way to balance safety, traffic efficiency, and project timelines for this vital Somerset route.