Work to complete town cycle route begins

The route will run between Bridgwater town centre and the Gravity Enterprise Zone

It could soon become much easier to cycle from a town centre and its local enterprise zone.

The ‘purple route’, in Bridgwater, Somerset, will eventually form an unbroken link between the town centre and the Gravity Enterprise Zone near Puriton.

Nearly two years after the publication of the Bridgwater local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP), different elements of the cycle path are starting to come to fruition.

The route has two main branches, both of which move from the town centre along the northern corridor to the Dunball roundabout, over the M5 and on to the Gravity site.

The existing cycle path runs between the River Parrett and Express Park

One branch of the route will start at the Northgate docks and will run north towards the Saltlands area, crossing over the A39 Western Way and moving up the right bank of the River Parrett towards the Express Park.

The other branch will begin at the Bridgwater Retail Park on The Leggar, with Somerset Council intending to provide some improved connections with the Cross Rifles roundabout as part of its scaled-back upgrade of the busy junction, where the A38 meets the A39.

Further announcements on elements of the purple route, including the layout of the cycling provision around both the Cross Rifles and Dunball roundabouts, are expected to be announced by Somerset Council later in the year.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and digital, said: “This is an important project at a very busy interchange.

“Sometimes there are significant delays for road users during peak times, and it is also very difficult to access for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Delivering a new improved intersection at Dunball is vital for Bridgwater’s continued growth and development.”