Cycle route diverted over bridge to avoid busy road

The new bridge near Shepton Mallet will provide a safe passage over the B3136

A new bridge has been lifted into place to help divert a popular cycle route over a busy road.

The new bridge near Shepton Mallet's football ground will provide a safe passage over the B3136 as part of the Strawberry Line.

The Strawberry Line aims to provide a 30-mile (48km) traffic-free route between Clevedon and Shepton Mallet.

Mick Fletcher, chair of the Strawberry Line Society, said: "It's a really big day for the Strawberry Line and it's a big day for Shepton."

Mr Fletcher added that the football ground was currently "cut off" from the rest of Shepton Mallet.

"You wouldn't let a kid cross the road on their skateboard alone," he said.

"With this new bridge you can cross safely."

On Tuesday, the bridge was lifted over the road on a crane.

"It's exactly at the point where the section of the Strawberry Line runs out of Shepton and towards Wells," Mr Fletcher said.

"We've got two sections working towards each other."

The Strawberry Line will eventually form part of the larger Somerset Circle, a 76-mile traffic-free circuit which aims to link the north Somerset coast with Bristol, Bath, the Mendip Hills and Cheddar.

It takes its name from a section of the Great Western Railway, which was famous for transporting strawberries and dairy produce to markets in London.

The bridge will be open to the public in November.