Dates set for two-way traffic to return to Bridgwater's Celebration Mile
Work on East Quay and Salmon Parade is expected to start in late January
Work to restore two-way traffic on East Quay and Salmon Parade in Bridgwater town centre is due to take place between late January and late March.
Somerset Council has confirmed the timetable following a decision by council leader Bill Revans on Wednesday 7th October.
He confirmed that two-way traffic will be restored on both roads, which form part of the Celebration Mile, in the new year.
The work is due to finish just before the local elections.
The decision has been welcomed by Bridgwater Town Council, along with Conservative and Labour opposition figures.
What is happening and when
Changes to the surfacing of East Quay and Salmon Parade will be carried out between 23rd January and 12th March.
This will include the installation of interim safe markings on East Quay until more permanent safe crossings can be put in place.
New lighting and signs will be installed from 15th February onwards.
Two-way traffic is expected to resume by 12th March.
The council will monitor the impact of the changes until 31st March, including a full road safety audit.
Additional measures, such as the safe crossings, will be installed at a later date.
Mike O'Dowd-Jones, the council's service director for infrastructure and transport, confirmed the work can be carried out under the authority's existing highways contracts.
This means it will not have to go through a fresh round of procurement.
He said in a written report: 'The broad programme for the re-introduction of two-way traffic to Salmon Parade and East Quay sees work forecast to be complete by the end of March 2027.
'A delay may be incurred should there be significant objections to the proposals that require the executive to determine the required traffic regulation order (TRO).'
Mr O'Dowd-Jones also said: 'The timetable for implementing the mitigation has yet to be determined, but would take place at the earliest opportunity following the implementation of the new road layout.'
Cost and funding
Officers have estimated the changes will cost £560,000.
Of that, £400,000 will come from the Department for Transport through its highways accessibility grant.
The remaining £160,000 will come from remaining grants within the Bridgwater town deal.
Those grants have to be committed to projects by 31st March 2027 and spent in full by April 2028.
Background to the Celebration Mile
The Celebration Mile will eventually run from Bridgwater railway station to the Northgate Docks.
Three sections have been built using £9m of central government funding, including one-way systems along Eastover, East Quay and Salmon Parade.
A petition attracted almost 6,000 local signatures.
Following that, the council restored on-street parking on Salmon Parade in April.
A public consultation was held over the summer on several options for further changes.