BRIDGWATER’S Bower Lane and the A39 Bath Road will face closures this month to allow for the works for the planned Agratas battery facility.
The first phase of the project on Westonzoyland Road and Bower Lane is almost finished, and further work on Bower Lane and the A39 Bath Road start soon.
The works are being carried out by Agratas’s contractor, JSM Group Services Ltd who will be installing underground power cables connecting the Gravity site in Puriton to Bridgwater’s electricity substation.
- The southern section of Bower Lane is scheduled to be closed in phases from September 9 to late December.
- The A39 Bath Road will see a one-way system from Crandon Bridge to the junction with Bower Lane from September 19 to mid November. Traffic will only be able to travel towards Bridgwater. The signed diversion route will be via Junction 23 and then south via the A38. Diversions will be clearly signposted and access maintained at all times for directly affected businesses and homes.
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Any one-way arrangements will be lifted for the Carnival season between October 30 to November 4.
Traffic management is scheduled to be paused over the festive period, between December 2 and January 2.
At the start of the New Year, traffic controls will also be needed on the A39 Puriton Hill. Details are being confirmed and Somerset Council will provide further information when it is ready.
Cllr Richard Wilkins, lead member for transport and digital, said: “The benefits for jobs and the economy that come with this huge investment are well known and hugely important to the county’s future.
“A development of this scale needs supporting infrastructure, and that usually means work on the highway with some unavoidable disruption.
“Much of this will be unfolding in the coming months and includes significant work on the A39. We’re working closely with everyone involved to coordinate the works and limit the disruption as much as possible.”
An Agratas spokesperson said: “We’re working with Somerset Council to connect our site to Bridgwater’s power station.
“We recognise this will cause some disruption to roads and traffic in Bridgwater and are doing everything we can to keep this to a minimum.
“The works will enable us to drive forward with the next phase of development, bringing us one step closer to completing our £4bn facility which will bring thousands of jobs and training opportunities to the region.”
what about the people that rely on bus service from chedzoy lane to bridgwater and back? the proposed closures mean we are isolated for months!
The only people to benefit will be the fat cats. I feel sorry for those left without transport though everyone will suffer. What about climate change? There’s Starmer spending £bs on climate change so how is this battery factory going to enhance the environment?
Queen of Hearts bridge club meets at Morganians on a Wednesday evening . We are short of members and this closure causing elderly people to drive miles out of their way is likely to cause the club to close.