MAJOR roadworks at the Dunball Roundabout in Bridgwater are nearing completion – to the relief of drivers – but a series of road closures are coming.

The route, which links Junction 23 of the M5 with the Gravity Smart Campus, in Puriton, as well as with Bridgwater and Burnham-on-Sea, has been undergoing a £10.7 million upgrade since last November.

The work, being carried out by Somerset Council contractor Centregreat, is due to be completed by the autumn, and aims to improve traffic flow and capacity, as well as improving facilities for walking and cycling.

Capacity at the roundabout is being improved by introducing traffic signals and a ‘throughabout’ lane which allows traffic to flow through the middle of it.

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The team is now in the final stages of the project with road resurfacing set to take place from next week – September 15 – followed by the installation of traffic lights.

As a result, there will be evening and overnight closures around the Dunball roundabout.

People are advised to plan ahead during these times, allow extra time for journeys and try to avoid the Dunball roundabout between 7.30pm and 5am.

The key times of road closures at the Dunball Roundabout and the surrounding area are:

• A38 northbound towards Dunball from Bridgwater is closed 11pm to 5am (no access to roundabout in this direction): Monday, September 15 – Tuesday, September 16; Thursday, September 25; Monday, September 29; Tuesday, September 30, and Monday, October 6.
• A38 southbound towards Bridgwater closed 11pm to 5am (no access to Bridgwater from the Dunball roundabout): Wednesday, September 24; Friday, October 3.
• A39 towards M5 closed (no access to motorway from this direction – access as normal from the Glastonbury direction), 7.30pm to 5am: Thursday, September 18 and Thursday, October 2.
• East side of Dunball roundabout closed 7.30pm to 5am (access to A39/M5 will be available but it will not be possible to travel around the roundabout on its eastern side): Wednesday, September 17; Friday, September 26; Wednesday, October 1.

The timings are subject to weather conditions and any other unforeseen circumstances, the council said, with diversions in place via the A39 Bath Road and Puriton Hill.

Council leader, Councillor Bill Revans (Lib Dem, North Petherton), said: “We’re delighted with the progress our contractor is making at this vital junction – the project is on time and on budget and will be completed this autumn as programmed.

“The aim is to improve capacity to allow for the significant amount of economic and residential growth happening in Bridgwater and the wider Somerset area in the next few years.

“These growth and investment opportunities such as the Agratas facility and wider Gravity development, along with Hinkley Point C are incredibly important, and we are committed to ensuring our road infrastructure is future-proofed to support this.

“We appreciate there will be some disruption while the work is completed – our team has tried to minimise this by keeping to evening and overnight work, but we would urge road users to plan ahead.

“We’d like to thank residents, businesses and road users for their patience and support while we deliver these improvements.”

READ MORE: Bridgwater news from your Somerset Leveller