Bridgwater Residents Spared Further Roadworks for Bus Service Upgrades

Bridgwater will avoid more road work. Somerset Council wants better bus routes. They got £6.2m from the government. The money helps buses via upgrades. They plan new infrastructure and fare help.

A new transport hub might come to town, like the one in Taunton. Traffic signals will change to speed up buses. The council said changes won’t need big digs. This news made the council members happy.

Mike Rigby asked for quick action at a planning meeting. He wants any work done fast. He doesn’t want repeats after projects end. Bridgwater folks would be happy, he feels.

Bridgwater has three big road projects now. These include the Celebration Mile project and the Dunball roundabout fix. Energy upgrades support a new factory. Diogo Rodrigues wants aid for lost business, but the council isn’t legally required to pay it.

The council’s Natasha Bates spoke on signals, stating changes wouldn’t involve major work. She said the tech system is not invasive. They plan to change signal box gear, but not build new lanes. Mike Rigby felt Bridgwater’s relief.

Besides signals, they will study a transport hub. It may replace the Watsons Lane station. Taunton’s hub costs £2.7m and opens soon. It includes bus bays, EV chargers, bike storage, and taxi spots. It also connects walking and biking paths.

Natasha Bates spoke on future plans, stating they’ll check Bridgwater’s night buses. They also plan service boosts and hub ideas. The Bridgwater hub won’t be ready soon, as the government gave only one year of funds. More funds are expected in 2026, following government reviews on spending.