Introduction
Somerset Council’s Major Projects Team is delivering a scheme to upgrade the Dunball Roundabout in Bridgwater. This is the busy intersection of the A38/A39 to the north of the town and serves as the link road to Junction 23 of the M5.
The project will see the roundabout layout improved to increase capacity and traffic flow at peak times, reducing congestion in the long term. There will also be better walking and cycling facilities.
Contractor, Centregreat was chosen after a tendering process the the total value of the project and associated active travel schemes is £10.7 million. It is wholly funded by ring-fenced Government and partner funding, as well as developer contributions. The condition of this funding is that it must be used to deliver the Dunball scheme on a previously agreed time scale.
Key facts
Work on the Dunball scheme started on 11 November 2024 and is expected to take about 12 months.
This project aims to improve capacity and traffic flow, helping to prevent queuing back onto the motorway junction and slip road. Additionally, the scheme will enhance walking and cycling access as part of its commitment to active travel and improved links into Bridgwater. This includes a toucan crossing at the north side to ensure safer crossing of the busy A38 as part of the route through Downend to Puriton.
Most of the improvements will be carried out with lane closures and temporary traffic signals in place. The scheme will also require some occasional short-term evening closures from 7.30pm to 5am of the link road between the Dunball roundabout and Junction 23.
The first of these closures are scheduled for:
- 6 to 10 January 2025
- 10 to 14 February 2025
- 3 to 14 March 2025
Despite these closures, the public will still be able to enter and exit the M5 via Junction 23 following diversion routes. Advanced notice will be issued, and diversion routes published as soon as possible. The team will do its utmost to minimize disruption on the network.
The new junction will have traffic signals and a ‘through about’ lane, similar to the arrangement introduced on the Westlands roundabout in Yeovil during the Western Corridor works a few years ago. The aim is to ease peak traffic flow through this crucial route, which links the town to Junction 23 of the M5, along with the Gravity Smart Campus in Puriton, the site of the proposed Agratas Gigafactory, which is set to create 4,000 jobs in Somerset.
The Dunball scheme contributes to the creation of a complete walking, cycling, and wheeling route from the center of Bridgwater along the A38 corridor. This route will stretch from the Gravity site to the town center, including upgraded provision planned at the Canon Cross Rifles Roundabout. A significant part of the A38 Active Travel corridor has already been completed along the A38.
In addition to a contribution from the Government, the project has been funded jointly by developer contributions, the Heart of the Southwest Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), National Highways, and Bridgwater Town Deal. The team will be regularly updating the public on progress throughout the duration of the project.
You can download plans for the Dunball Roundabout Improvement Scheme in the Downloads section below.
