Work to start on walking and cycling route to Somerset's £4bn 'gigafactory'
New crossings and traffic calming are also planned in both Somerset villages
Work is due to begin in the coming weeks on a new walking and cycling route linking the Somerset villages of Puriton and Woolavington to the site of a £4bn gigafactory.
Construction is moving forward on Agratas' new facility within the Gravity enterprise zone.
The zone lies between the two villages, a short distance from junction 23 of the M5.
Numerous transport improvements are being considered to make it easier for staff and materials to reach the gigafactory.
They include a new "junction 22A" on the motorway and a possible restoration of the rail freight line, using an existing bridge and trackbed.
This Is Gravity Ltd has now appointed a contractor to deliver a safe active travel link running from Woolavington Surgery to the Enterprise Way entrance in Puriton.
It is intended to reduce the number of short car journeys staff will need to make once the site is operational in late 2027.
Why the route is needed
The two villages are mainly linked by Woolavington Road.
The road has limited pavements, a 60mph speed limit for most of its length and little or no street lighting.
There are no footpaths or bridleways running near it, leaving pedestrians with no reasonable safe route between the two villages.
The route
The active travel route is part of the Gravity village enhancement project (VES), which will deliver a range of transport improvements in and around the two villages.
Montel Civil Engineering has been appointed to deliver the VES.
Work is expected to start in both villages from Monday 19th October and last for up to seven months.
The route secured planning permission in May 2023.
It will be built north of Woolavington Road, with existing trees and hedgerows largely retained and new native trees planted along its length.
The path will be built using materials recycled from the wider Gravity site.
Lighting will be installed along its full length, with regularly spaced litter and dog poo bins.
The route will begin west of Woolavington Surgery, where the existing pavement ends.
It will run north of Woolavington Road, past the Balfour Beatty construction compound.
It will cross East Approach Road, the former entrance to the 37 Sports and Social Club, and run north of the existing homes on Woolavington Road.
It will then cross West Approach Road and bend around The Paddocks.
The route will end on Enterprise Way in Puriton, outside the front gate of the site.
That is a short walk from the planned site of the relocated social club, where construction is also expected to begin either side of Christmas.
The village enhancement project also includes traffic calming measures in both villages, to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
The changes align with the delivery of the "purple route" in the Bridgwater local cycling and walking infrastructure plans.
That route will eventually run from Bridgwater town centre to the Gravity site, via the Dunball roundabout and the Puriton footbridge over the M5.
Reaction
Paul Lowndes, project director at This Is Gravity, said: "It's a positive moment for Gravity as we deliver a key piece of community-focused infrastructure that will improve local connections within the area, which is a key priority for us."
"At Gravity, we're committed to delivering a connected place that puts Somerset and the wider south west at the centre of the digital and clean growth agenda, while at the same time creating a positive legacy for our neighbours."
Roadworks timetable
The improvements are expected to begin on Monday 19th October and be carried out in phases until 14th March 2027.
All roadworks will stop over Christmas, and all dates are subject to change.
Details of any road closures will be published on the official roadworks portal at www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/roadworks-and-travel.
Improvements in Puriton
The estimated dates for each improvement are:
- Raised table and pedestrian crossing near the junction of Riverton Road with Newlyn Crescent and Rowlands Rise: 19th October to 6th December and 4th to 10th January 2027
- Raised table and new footway north of Woolavington Road, near the Enterprise Way roundabout: 19th October to 6th December and 22nd to 28th February
- Pedestrian crossing near the junction of Hall Road and Puriton Hill: 7th to 20th December and 4th to 17th January
- Raised table, pedestrian crossing and widened footways near the junctions of Woolavington Road with Hillside and Middle Street: 7th to 20th December and 11th January to 7th February
- Raised table and pedestrian crossing at the junction of Cypress Drive and Hillside: 11th January to 7th February
- Raised table and pedestrian crossing east of Spring Rise: 11th January to 7th February
- Crossing improvements at the junction of Puriton Park with Woolavington Road: 8th February to 7th March
- Raised table and pedestrian crossing west of Manse Lane: 8th to 28th February
- Footway and crossing improvement at the junction of Manse Lane with Woolavington Road: 8th February to 14th March
Improvements in Woolavington
The estimated dates for each improvement are:
- Speed humps, raised table and pedestrian crossing at Woolavington Village Primary School, near the junction with Higher Road and The Drive: 19th October to 6th December and 4th to 10th January 2027
- Pedestrian crossing and footway on Woolavington Road, west of Lynham Close: 30th November to 20th December and 4th January to 7th February
- Raised table and pedestrian crossings at the northern junction of the B3141 Woolavington Hill and Old Mill Road: 19th October to 8th November and 30th November to 6th December
- Raised table and pedestrian crossings at the southern junction of Woolavington Hill and Old Mill Road: 9th November to 6th December
- Raised table at the junction of Woolavington Hill with Higher Road: 9th November to 20th December
- Footway and crossing improvements on the B3141 Lockwell, near the junctions with Church Street and Lower Road: 11th to 31st January and 15th to 21st February
- Raised table north of Lower Road: 1st to 7th February
- Speed humps, footway and crossing improvements north of Vicarage Road, near the bus stop on the B3141 Lockwell: 8th to 21st February