A new cycling and walking route complete with eco-friendly lighting and forming part of an ever-growing network has been opened in Bridgwater.

Children from Northgate Primary School were on hand to celebrate the completion of the new route, a shared use cycle route from Linham road to the docks, extending the cycle network and linking with the Council’s previously delivered route over Saltlands bridge and along the eastern side of the river to Express Park.

The whole route now extends to Puriton and will take a further step forward when the Dunball scheme is complete which will provide a crossing into Downend and make the connection to the route between Express Park and Dunball.

The new section also links to the network accessing Chiltern Trinity (from Linham Road end) and into Northgate and the town centre from the docks side.

The scheme was funded by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and Hinkley Point C, and delivered by the Council’s contractor Octavius Infrastructure.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, led the opening ceremony attended by partners and community leaders including members of Bridgwater Town Council, Bridgwater Area Cycling Campaign (BACC), along with a group of pupils from Northgate Primary School and representatives from Octavius Infrastructure.

He said:

This is a fine piece of work by our contractor Octavius delivered on time and budget and it’s an excellent addition to Bridgwater’s growing cycling and walking network.

We are committed to investing in active travel infrastructure across Somerset to make it easier for people to cycle or walk as an alternative to using the car and we’d urge everyone to take a look at our evolving Local Walking and Cycling Plans for key towns in the county, including Bridgwater.

Nick Brooks, Octavius Regional Civil Engineering Contracts Manager said:

We are delighted to have supported Somerset Council in the completion of this project.

The improved river path will provide a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists as well as better access to the riverside for all.

The design included the use of timber edgings to reduce carbon emissions in the construction as well as new solar powered lighting along the path itself.

In addition to completing the new cycle path, the Octavius site team worked with the Somerset Council Conservation Officer to recover and reclaim an historical mooring bollard, which was relocated to a new safe location on the route nearby.

Visit the Council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure page to view the active travel plan for Bridgwater.

If you spot a problem on the road, you can report it quickly and easily via the Council’s Report a problem on the road page.