Huntworth Roundabout FAQs

Q1. Why are the works needed and what work will be undertaken?

Huntworth Roundabout is a key junction in ’s highway network and experiences significant peak-time congestion and queuing, impacting on access to nearby employment and residential areas and causing blocking back towards the M5 Junction 24 roundabout.

The scheme will increase capacity on both of the Taunton Road approaches (northbound and southbound) and on the eastern arm which connects the roundabout to the M5, and will introduce part-signalisation in order to improve traffic flow, reduce vehicle delay and manage queue lengths. A segregated cycle and pedestrian route will be constructed on the western side of Taunton Road as well as a signalised crossing of Taunton Road on the roundabout’s northern arm, which will connect the Bridgwater Gateway site to residential areas of the town and promote safer sustainable travel from all the way through to the town centre.

The junction itself will be altered substantially with the area of the central island being reduced to accommodate 3 / 4 lanes of traffic around the roundabout. The approaches to the roundabout from Taunton and Bridgwater will be increased to three lanes and the approach from the motorway will be increased to four lanes.

Q2. How are these works planned and organised?

This scheme, and Bridgwater works in general, are being programmed strategically to minimise traffic congestion and delays, for example ensuring that The Bridgwater Way (TBW) scheme at North Petherton is complete prior to commencement of the roundabout works. These works have also been planned so that that the entrance to the Gateway site will be constructed as part of this scheme, avoiding further works and disruption at this location in the future.

In order to minimise future disruption and costs, County Council will additionally be carrying out the following maintenance works at the same time as the roundabout improvement works:

 Resurfacing the carriageway to the Regional Rural Business Centre junction on the A38Resurfacing the carriageway between the Huntworth roundabout and the M5 roundabout  Upgrading the footpath on the eastern side of the A38

Q3. How will the traffic be managed?

The works will require lane closures to ensure they can be undertaken safely whilst maintaining traffic flows. The lane into which traffic is directed will vary depending on the precise location of the works being undertaken at the time. It is likely that lane closures will be applied to each approach at the same time to minimise safety risks associated with vehicles changing lanes when passing through the works and to ensure the works can be undertaken efficiently. At least one lane will be open on each approach.

Q4. How long will the works take?

It is expected that the works will be complete by the end of May 2016 and the contractors will work hard to ensure that deadline is met. As the works progress the timetable for the completion of the works and the progress being made will be updated and communicated to all stakeholders and interested parties.

Q5. Where has funding come from?

The estimated cost of the scheme is £2.9 million. £1.9m for the scheme is being funded by the Heart of the South West’s Local Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Deal and a further £1m from contributions associated with adjacent developments. The total cost of the works including the Bridgwater Gateway site access is £3.4 million (0.5m funded by the Developer). The maintenance works are in addition to this.

Q7. How will you ensure that traffic does not back onto the M5?

The initial phase of the works will include reduction of the approach to the roundabout from the M5 J24 to one lane.

In addition we are liaising with Highways with respect to signage on the M5 advising of these works taking place and will also utilise the monitoring information system to keep ourselves informed of any adverse impact on the M5.

Q8. Will the roadworks disrupt Bridgwater or North Petherton Carnival?

The works will be on-going during the Bridgwater and North Petherton Carnivals but measures will be undertaken to ensure that the impact of the works are minimised on these important local events. This will be achieved through careful planning of the activities in the initial stages of the works to ensure that the verges etc. are available for the passage and use of pedestrians.

Q9. What about disruption to businesses? Can they claim compensation?

We appreciate that there is never a good time to carry out road works, and we have timed these to make best use of what is typically a quieter time of year for commuting traffic on our roads. We do sympathise with local businesses but obviously this is work we are committed to carrying out, and it will have a firm long-term benefit. As you might appreciate we carry out many miles of improvements in our county in any given year – and it is work we have a duty to carry out as a highways authority. As such it is simply not viable to compensate business directly due to disruption from road works.

Q10. Will the roundabout works coincide with the works on the cycle path at North Petherton?

No, the Bridgwater Way scheme will be completed prior to the Huntworth Roundabout works commencing. Q11. Why can’t the works to the roundabout be undertaken at night?

The nature of the works is such that even if works are undertaken at night, the work areas could not be reinstated to make them available for use by traffic during the daytime. Even if they could be reinstated the time taken for the reinstatement of the works and the subsequent opening up of the works is such that very little productive work would be achieved during a night time shift. This would in turn extend the disruption over a longer period of time.

There are also of course practical issues associated with night time working such as the availability and delivery of materials required for the works and also health and safety issues associated with undertaking construction works under artificial lighting.

12. Who is undertaking the works?

Skanska will be undertaking the works on SCC’s behalf. Standard working hours are between 8am – 4:30pm from Mon - Fri but there may be some activity on Saturdays and outside of these hours.

Q13. Will there be a change in the speed limit?

Yes, speed limits will be permanently changed in the area in order to improve the safety of the junction and this part of the road corridor. Speeds will be reduced between Huntworth and North Petherton from 40mph to 30mph and at the M5 roundabout through Huntworth roundabout and down to the Showground roundabout from the national speed limit down to 40mph. This will also have the benefit of reducing noise and pollution in this area for local residents, businesses, pedestrians and other non-vehicle road users.