THE upgrade of two crucial junctions in Taunton town centre could begin within a matter of weeks – with the public being urged to give their views on the proposals.

Somerset Council has been carrying out a rolling programme of upgrading traffic signals across the county, replacing traffic lights and related infrastructure which are reaching the end of their working lives.

Two sets of lights on the A38 Hurdle Way are more than 20 years old and in urgent need of upgrading – one at the junction with the B3170 Mansfield Road, and one at the junction with Silver Street, near the Sainsbury’s petrol station.

The council announced plans in September to upgrade these junctions using central government funding, making them safer for pedestrians and cyclists as well as improving bus journey times to and from the town centre.

A public drop-in event will be held at Taunton Library on Wednesday afternoon (October 30) where residents can grill councillors and officers on the proposed designs, before work gets under way in mid-November.

The Hurdle Way junction handles large volumes of commuter traffic every day, having to deal with cars entering the town centre from both the M5 to the east and villages within the Blackdown Hills to the south.

The new lights will give more priority to buses, allowing for faster, smoother journeys to and from the town centre and thereby encouraging more people to use public transport rather than driving into the town.

Cyclists will also benefit from the changes, with new ‘bike boxes’ (a larger red area nearer the lights) allowing riders to stop safely and wait for their signal.

A new on-road cycle lane will also be added along Mansfield Road as far as the junction with Hurdle Way, as part of the aspirational ‘green route’ identified within the Taunton local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP), which will eventually run all the way from Norton Fitzwarren to the Nexus 25 employment site.

New, improved pedestrian crossings will be put in place and both junctions will be comprehensively resurfaced as part of this scheme.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said: “This vital project will replace old, outdated equipment close to the end of its lifespan, while improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.

“By enhancing routes for walking, cycling, and bus travel, it is part of the ongoing efforts to make Taunton more connected, in line with our garden town vision.

“It is also linked to our bus service improvement plan (BSIP) which aims to make bus travel a more attractive and feasible option for people, ensuring buses can move through this route more quickly.”

Improvements identified within the council’s BSIP (which was revised in early-May) will all be paid for using ring-fenced central government grants, provided by the Department for Transport (DfT).

The Hurdle Way improvements form part of the council’s wider ambitions for the eastern approach into Taunton, which would see bus lanes installed in both directions along the A3027 East Street and the A38 East Reach between Wordsworth Drive and the Market House.

While the council has not confirmed the specific cost of the Hurdle Way scheme, a total of £1,852,550 has been set aside within the BSIP grant for all improvements on the eastern side of Taunton.

The council’s official roadworks portal currently indicates that work on the junctions will begin on November 11 and run until April 2, 2025 – though there will be a pause during the Christmas period.

Most of the work will be carried out under temporary traffic lights. Some short-term evening closures will be required but advanced notice will be given ahead of these.

A public drop-in event attended by local councillors and highways officers will be held at Taunton Library on Wednesday (October 30) between 3.30pm and 6.30pm, giving residents the opportunity to view the detailed designs of the scheme up close and put questions to those managing the project.

Mr Wilkins added: “We know there will be some increased disruption at peak times and we’ll do our best to minimise this, but we would also urge people to plan ahead while the work is ongoing.

“It is worth remembering that we have a fantastic park and ride service operated by our partner Stagecoach, which costs just £2 for a return journey into town – this could be a useful alternative if you commute regularly.

“We welcome everyone to come along to this event and find out about these essential Hurdle Way improvements.”

For more information on these and other roadworks in your area, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/roadworks-and-travel.