From Somerset County Council’s Newsroom…
Taunton’s park and ride service will be made free of charge as part of a special initiative to encourage use of the park and ride service.
The scheme, which starts on Monday 9 August and is due for completion in summer 2022, requires the A38 Bridgwater Road on the north side of the junction to be closed to all traffic for the duration of the works and a diversion will be in place using the new Western Relief Road.
This will have an impact for everyone travelling around Taunton, so the Council has taken the decision to provide the park and ride service at both sites for free from 9 August until further notice, subject to review. This will include a Saturday service from 14 August.
Councillor David Fothergill, Leader of Somerset County Council said: “We’d like to thank everyone for their support and patience during what is a period of significant change for the town’s road infrastructure.
“Doing nothing isn’t an option as Taunton continues to grow and the upgrade at Creech Castle follows the key improvements at Junction 25, and the newly opened Western Relief Road.
“We fully understand this will be a very challenging scheme to deliver and want to do what we can to minimise the disruption.
“We hope making the park and ride free will help make life a little bit easier for everyone travelling around the town and encourage people to keep visiting while this vital work is carried out.”
The scheme at Creech Castle includes road widening and requires very significant works activities with heavy machinery and excavations in the road. Therefore, in order to keep both the workforce and travelling public safe it is necessary to close Bridgwater Road north of the junction. This will affect vehicles but not pedestrians or cyclists who will have access throughout.
You can find out more about Somerset County Council and their projects by going to their website, somersetnewsroom.com. Find them on social media, as well, go to @SomersetCountyCouncil on Facebook.