Business Leader Anticipates ‘Chaos’ for Staff Due to Extensive Roadworks

A local business leader has voiced concerns that upcoming months of roadworks will result in “chaos” for his employees. This concern stems from a £10.7 million upgrade project at the Dunball roundabout in Bridgwater, a key junction connecting the M5 and the A38 Bristol Road. Somerset Council stated that upon the completion of these works, set to begin on 11 November, the “whole road system of Bridgwater will work so much better.” However, Matthew Brook, who manages the timber merchant Brookridge Timber, expressed uncertainty about their ability to maintain operations, fearing his workers will face significant delays in traffic. Councillor Richard Wilkins, the lead member for transport, acknowledged the immediate challenges, stating: “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.” He added that while “there are a lot of works going on in Bridgwater at the moment and it is a difficult time for traffic,” the Dunball roundabout is “a strategically important roundabout.” Mr Wilkins further explained that the project “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 roundabout is slated for conversion into a through-about, a design allowing vehicles to pass directly through its center. Additionally, new crossings for pedestrians and cyclists are planned for installation, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The upgrade will necessitate three periods of overnight closures on the A39, scheduled from 6 to 10 January, 10 to 14 February, and 3 to 14 March. During these specified closures, drivers will still be able to exit the M5 at junction 23 but will be rerouted along the A39 Puriton Hill eastbound towards Knowle, entering the town via the A39 Bath Road and the Cross Rifles roundabout. Mr Brook reiterated his concern, stating: “The work is going to cause chaos for us.” He elaborated: “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.” He further remarked: “You wait until summer holidays and you can barely see a gap between the cars.”