Major M5 roundabout works to start next month

The J23 Dunball roundabout for the M5 gets very busy in peak times

A long-awaited upgrade to a busy roundabout near the M5 will begin next month.

The Dunball roundabout in Bridgwater, Somerset, links the A38 Bristol Road to J23 of the M5 with the works and travel improvements expected to cost £10.7m.

Somerset Council said the roundabout will be completely signalised and converted into a ‘throughabout’, allowing northbound traffic a quicker journey time.

The work on the roundabout will begin on 11 November with lane closures and temporary traffic signals in place with additional short-term evening closures in early-2025.

The Dunball roundabout links to two seperate service areas

The roundabout upgrade will include improved pedestrian and cycling connections, which will link up to the existing cycle lanes along the A38 Bristol Road.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said this is a "vital project at a very busy junction".

"The roundabout causes significant delays for road users during peak times, and it is also very difficult to access for pedestrians and cyclists," he added.

To save money in the years ahead, Somerset Council said this contract can be extended to include the planned £6.4m upgrade of the Edithmead roundabout in Highbridge and other nearby improvements to the A38 heading towards Bristol Airport.

Bridgwater has several major roadworks projects with improvements for the Agratas gigafactory and the ‘Celebration Mile’ in the town centre.

Mr Wilkins said: "Ideally, the work would be staggered, but all the projects are highly time-sensitive and in the case of the Celebration Mile and Dunball, funding must be spent within a certain time-scale.

"This is a challenging time and we understand there will be concerns locally.

"We will be working hard to ensure works can be coordinated in a way that reduces disruption as much as possible."