Upgrade to Bridgwater's walking and cycling network "progressing well"
It should be completed later in the autumn
Work on the latest upgrade to Bridgwater’s walking and cycling network is “progressing well”.
Somerset Council and its contractor Octavius began the project - which will cost £200,000 - in mid-August to enhance the cycle path along the River Parrett between Linham Road and Northgate Docks.
Funded by a central government grant, the project aims to improve the connection between the docks and Express Park, building on previous upgrades along the river.
The council has confirmed that the project is on time and within budget, with completion expected later in the autumn.
Funding for this and other active travel improvements across Bridgwater’s northern corridor was secured through a successful £10m bid to the government’s levelling up fund in November 2021.
While most of the grant is allocated to upgrading the Dunball roundabout and minor improvements to the Cross Rifles roundabout, a significant portion has been used to enhance walking and cycling routes between Express Park and the town centre.
In November 2022, around one kilometre of improved cycle paths between Express Park and the A39 Western Way was completed, with additional funding from EDF Energy.
The latest section near Linham Road will see a narrow, stony path along the river’s western bank widened and resurfaced, creating a safer connection to the Express Park link for tourists and commuters. The Bridgwater Area Cycling Campaign (BACC) celebrated the “brilliant news” on its official Facebook page as construction began.
A BACC spokesman said, “This means we will now have a safe corridor from north to south across Bridgwater, making cycling from Western Way to the docks ten times easier.”
The docks will undergo a £5.2m regeneration as part of the Bridgwater town deal, with £1m dedicated to further active travel improvements, including a new pedestrian and cycling bridge.
From the docks, walkers and cyclists can access the town centre via the Celebration Mile or explore the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, where the Canal and River Trust is working on reopening the tow-path near Albert Street.
A council spokesman confirmed that the Linham Road works are progressing on schedule and within the £200,000 budget. The council’s roadworks portal indicates the cycle link will be completed by October 7, though signage at the site suggests the route may remain closed until late October or early November.