New £2m footbridge will replace narrow crossing

Work on a new £2m footbridge to replace a crossing too narrow for cyclists, is to begin in July.

The current bridge, which links Taunton's Morrisons supermarket with Coal Orchard, is not wide enough for both cyclists and pedestrians to use.

Somerset Council's planning committee approved plans for a 4m (13ft) wide, more cycle-friendly bridge, last August.

The project will be paid for with a £14m grant from the government's Future High Streets fund and additional council funding.

The pedestrian bridge links up with the National Cycle Network route three, which runs along the River Tone and onto the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

But currently it does not meet the Department for Transport's guidelines for a cycling compliant bridge and cyclists have to dismount if they want to use it.

Tender documents, published in January, suggest the replacement bridge will cost up to £2m, according to the Local Democracy Service.

A report published in February, indicated that work on the new bridge would be completed by November.

But a spokesman for the council, said there were still a "number of stages to go through".

"Some of the foundations of the existing bridge will be adapted and used, and the rest will be removed in stages," they explained.

"We can't confirm the installation cost until the detailed design process is complete."

Councillor Mike Rigby, said the scheme was in the final stage of design and work on site was "likely to begin in July".

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.