Workers fear months of roadworks will cause 'chaos'

Matthew Brook said he does not know how they will be able to continue trading

A business leader fears months of roadworks are going to cause "chaos" for his workers.

A £10.7m upgrade is taking place at Dunball roundabout in Bridgwater, which links the M5 with the A38 Bristol Road.

Somerset Council said once the works, which will commence on 11 November, are complete the "whole road system of Bridgwater will work so much better".

But Matthew Brook, manager of timber merchant Brookridge Timber, said he does not know how they will be able to continue trading as he worries his workers will be stuck in long queues.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, lead member for transport, said: “It’s going to be really painful, there’s no two ways about it. But once it’s delivered, the benefits will speak for themselves.

"There are a lot of works going on in Bridgwater at the moment and it is a difficult time for traffic but this is a strategically important roundabout."

Mr Wilkins added: "It will provide faster movement for cars but it will also provide a safer junction for pedestrians and cyclists. It will make the whole road system of Bridgwater work so much better."

The upgrade will make the roundabout "easier to navigate", the council has said

The roundabout will be turned into a through-about, which means vehicles can travel through the middle.

New crossings will also be installed for pedestrians and cyclists, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

As part of the upgrade, three sets of overnight closures will be required on the A39 from 6 to 10 January, 10 to 14 February and 3 to14 March.

During these times, motorists can still use junction 23 to leave the M5 but will be diverted along the A39 Puriton Hill eastbound towards Knowle and enter the town via the A39 Bath Road and the Cross Rifles roundabout.

'It will be difficult'

Mr Brook continued: "The work is going to cause chaos for us.

"The local contractors who come up here before they go off to do their hard day's work are going to have to fight through traffic to get in.

"You wait until summer holidays and you can barely see a gap between the cars."