Plans to upgrade Bridgwater’s busy Cross Rifles roundabout have been abandoned, with officials stating the project would offer limited benefits and cause significant disruption for local motorists.
The Cross Rifles roundabout connects crucial routes including the A38 Bristol Road, the A39 Bath Road leading to the upcoming gigafactory site, as well as the A38 Broadway and The Clink towards Bridgwater Retail Park. Initially, the roundabout was part of a major upgrade scheme for Bridgwater’s northern corridor, funded by over £10 million from the government’s levelling up fund in 2021.
However, in 2024, Somerset Council decided to cancel the Cross Rifles upgrade due to escalating costs. The council redirected remaining funds toward improving the Dunball roundabout near the M5 motorway, a project completed in November 2025.
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This decision sparked criticism from local Conservative councillors and Bridgwater MP Sir Ashley Fox, who accused the council of causing severe congestion and gridlock in parliament. Fox highlighted the impact on residents, recounting how one local’s taxi fare tripled due to a new one-way system imposed alongside the cancellation.
In response, Somerset Council insisted all proper procedures were followed and argued the original scheme would have provided only marginal improvements to traffic flow while causing approximately 18 months of extensive disruption during construction. Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste, emphasized concerns about land acquisition and the complexity of traffic management that would have compounded delays at both the Cross Rifles and Dunball roundabouts.
Wilkins also criticized MP Fox’s position, suggesting the pursuit of the upgrade disregarded the unnecessary burden on local drivers purely for political motives. The council maintains it continues to implement safety-related improvements to the area despite scrapping the full upgrade plan.
The controversy remains a significant topic for Bridgwater’s commuters as discussions continue regarding accountability and future infrastructure investment in the town.