Members of the public are invited to have their say on key plans to upgrade the busy Creech Castle junction on the Toneway in Taunton.
Somerset County Council has secured external funding and is developing a junction improvement scheme to ensure Taunton’s transport network can cope with planned future development.
The Toneway is already heavily used as the main route linking the town to the M5 motorway. If improvements are not carried out, the Creech Castle junction will hinder planned development at Monkton Heathfield and impact on the strategic road network.
Councillor John Woodman, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “We’re all aware of the traffic hotspots in Taunton and certainly the Toneway corridor has been on our wish list to improve for some time.
“Work to upgrade Junction 25 is due to start next year and now we’re pleased to share our plans to improve traffic flow at the Creech Castle junction.
“This is only possible due to our efforts to put together a solid business case which demonstrates the scheme’s value and will enable us to secure external funding. This money will be specifically for this project and is completely separate to our everyday running costs.
“Please check out the plans and find out how you can take part in our consultation.”
The objectives of the scheme are to:
- Boost the economy in Taunton by supporting the delivery of planned employment and residential sites.
- Reduce peak hour congestion (compared with doing nothing) along the Toneway, improving access from the M5 to Taunton town centre.
- Reduce severance between communities on each side of the junction.
The proposed scheme takes account of the clear geographic constraints in this location and increases the number of lanes through the junction to add capacity and improve traffic flow. It also provides improved crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
The scheme is estimated to cost about £8m. A business case has been submitted to the Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Growth Deal fund for the majority of the money and the rest will come from capital funds, such as external developer contributions.
The consultation is now open at http://www.somersetconsults.org.uk and closes on 31 October.
You can also see the plans and speak to officers at a drop-in consultation event being held at the Hankridge Arms, Taunton, on Wednesday 17 October between 1pm and 5.30pm. There will be a further event later in the consultation period – location and date to be confirmed.
For further information or to respond to the consultation in another format, please contact transportpolicy@somerset.gov.uk.
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