Public shown new access road plan

The new road will provide a link for HGV's to the M5

An exhibition of plans for a new £8m access road to an industrial estate in Somerset is due to open to the public.

The Colley Lane Southern Access Road in Bridgwater is scheduled to be completed by 2010.

It will run from Parrett Way to Marsh Lane with a new roundabout at the existing Marsh Lane/Showground Road junction.

The proposals have been designed to improve access to the estate and ease congestion in the town.

THE SCHEME INVOLVES Construction of a new bridge over the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal Construction of a new bridge over the River Parrett Provision of a roundabout at the Showground Road/Marsh Lane junction Construction of 840m of new carriageway Widening/realigning of 100m of existing road Provision of pedestrian and cycle facilities Provision of 4 junctions, incorporating 'right turning' lanes

Colley Lane Industrial Estate can only currently be accessed from the A38, to the north of the estate.

This means all vehicles approaching the estate from the south must go through the A38 Taunton Road and Broadway, before turning back south into the estate via Salmon Parade.

The new road will provide a link for heavy goods vehicles to get into the estate from Junction 24 of the M5.

It will also create access to areas of land between the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and the River Parrett, as well as the area between the River Parrett and the Southern units of the Colley Lane Estate.

The exhibition will open at the The Canalside in Marsh Lane, Huntsworth, Bridgwater on Wednesday 15 October.