UPDATE: A39 near Bridgwater reopens after serious collision (From Bridgwater Mercury)

I do hope those involved will be OK.

Whilst the roads were Closed, ITV news were coincidentally in Cannington doing a piece on transport; in particular the effects of the additional traffic for Hinkley C along with items about the failure of a Cannington/Bridgwate
r by-pass being a condition of the permission to build.

It is is a highly dangerous piece of road, and sadly will no doubt get worse.

My thoughts however are with those directly affected by this incident.

wow looks like this driver was luckyto come out of it,hope you make a full fast recovery.

@dave are your comments really necassary!

Alex@SDA wrote:
I do hope those involved will be OK.

Whilst the roads were Closed, ITV news were coincidentally in Cannington doing a piece on transport; in particular the effects of the additional traffic for Hinkley C along with items about the failure of a Cannington/Bridgwate

r by-pass being a condition of the permission to build.

It is is a highly dangerous piece of road, and sadly will no doubt get worse.

My thoughts however are with those directly affected by this incident.

Yet another accident on this road from Bridgwater to Cannington, I do have to take issue however, with part of your post. Being that you state that this is a highly dangerous piece of road!!
We had these such Comments, made with regard to Westonzoyland Rd between Bridgwater, the road is NOT dangerous, nor is the Cannington A39
It is the driver error, that in almost all accidents, are found to be the cause of such accidents like yesterday's.
I hope that those involved make a swift recovery, (excuses the Pun)
This, Unfortunatly will not be the only accident on the Bridgwater - Cannington EDF Route, over the next 10 years, Hinkley C, which is why myself and most of our residents in Sedgemoor, called for the Bridgwater Bypass to be Built, as part of Works required to mitigate EDF Building The New Nuclear Build Programe, there is still the time to construct it, if they had the Will to do so!!!
Blue-Owl
David L Preece

Once again...

Roads are not dangerous, drivers are.

Before everyone starts on with the "why won't SOMEBODY think of the CHILDREN!?!" argument, people need to take more account of their actions. Driving at 60mph on that section of road is pretty silly and although the law allows it, I personally slow down there. Besides the junctions on both sides, there is a petrol station, where cars are slowing down to enter, or have just pulled out from. Plus there's a blind bend, and also a layby on the other side of the road.

These are all clues to drive at an appropriate speed.

The problem I have with this country is that we are all so afraid of making decisions for ourselves, authorities HAVE to come in and tell you what to do. In this case, I fully expect a '40' sign to be installed here, further removing our judgement and liberty.

Blue Owl - unfortunately your calls for a bypass will fall on deaf ears within Électricité de France.

All they are interested in is screwing us Brits over and getting the highest possible price for the electricity they will generate.

Any road building they do will have an impact on their profits so it will not occur.

Yes the roads are not dangerous but the junction layout there isn't designed for the traffic the road gets - sight lines are terrible and the garage would never get planning permission in that spot today.

As you say, twinkles, more thought and care has to be taken by the driver on this section and especially those pulling into oncoming traffic who seem reluctant to turn their head....

When I heard about this I just knew the EDF bashers would love it. So tell me how is this actually anything to do with EDF? they don't look like like construction traffic to me nor does any other incident on that road. How bout you put the blame where it's due like on poor driving decisions. As for you bypass I really don't see how that would work being as a large portion of the traffic would be from workers living in the town. Really don't see how building a bypass would help reduce that traffic. As we can be pretty sure that project is going ahead how bout all you moaners move away or do you plan on spouting your drivel for the next 15 years?

Krysiz wrote:
When I heard about this I just knew the EDF bashers would love it. So tell me how is this actually anything to do with EDF? they don't look like like construction traffic to me nor does any other incident on that road. How bout you put the blame where it's due like on poor driving decisions. As for you bypass I really don't see how that would work being as a large portion of the traffic would be from workers living in the town. Really don't see how building a bypass would help reduce that traffic. As we can be pretty sure that project is going ahead how bout all you moaners move away or do you plan on spouting your drivel for the next 15 years?

You do not understand at all why we have been calling for the last 5-6 years since EDF announced the proposed Hinkley C. You state that a large proportion of the workers will be from Bridgwater, those 1100 construction workers housed in Barrack Block Accom @ Bath Rd Innovia site and BARFC 2 Nd pitch, will be only abe to go out to the Site in Bus Transportation, that is only 1100, of up to 25 Thousand Workers @ the Construction Peak build time, travelling from within a 90 min drive time to Bridgwater from as far away as Glos, Bristol , Wiltshire, Dorset. All who have to park in the Park & Ride Sites to go to Hinkley by Bus 24/7 for 10 years. On top of this worker Traffic there will be upto 800 HGV movements from the Site Daily.
How this affects EDF and Hinkley is simply this, yesterday's accident closed the only Road out of Bridgwater to the Site, from Quantock Rd, the road was closed for 2-3 Hours, multiple ambulances were called, as there were 2 cars full with passengers involved, all sustained injuries, the air Ambulance, was called in. So potentially, possible fatalities .
This is only one of some four or five accidents over the last year, on this stretch between Bridgwater and Cannington. So what do you think will happen with traffic, if as and when a similar accident were to happen during construction of Hinkley C.
Why should we "Moaners" as you call us move away, I was born here in Bridgwater, as was my family' relatives over the last 300 years, so why should I.
I am not against Hinkley, but they could if they wanted have built a By-Pass, if there was a will to do it, but there isn't, from EDF. Krysiz , were do you come from, have you any history to this Town.??
Contributors to this post, including myself, have already said it's driver error, not dangerous roads, but, as you know, when in the next year the construction actually starts in Ernest , the traffic volumes on the Bridgwater - Hinkley rd will be horrendous, and if motorist get stuck behind countless lorries and buses, will try to overtake, in possibly the worst location, and there will be more accidents.
Why should we have to accept, any and everything the French, want us to roll over and accept their terms, at the last minute, after changing the Goal Posts.
Krysiz, do you work for EDF?? As you seem very keen to defend then.
Blue-Owl
David Preece

To start yes i'm from Bridgwater and yes so are my family not that it really makes allot of difference. And no I definitely don't work for EDF. Just because someone disagrees with you you don't need to find a motive as to why. Perhaps not everyone see's it like you. I'm sure the town council would love people blaming EDF for traffic chaos when in fact their mis-management already causes gridlock for most of the day on the major routes. Yes it's pretty obvious that something will have to be done to distribute that amount of traffic but it's not quite as simple as EDF just planning a road and building it is it. No matter where a road is planned there will be objections that's just the Bridgwater way. The NDR was planned as a Distribution road but by the time it was built I was 10 years out of date and only really there as a trunk road for yet more housing. This comes down to the council and there poor administration rather than EDF so direct your complaints at them maybe.

Whilst I don't subscribe to the view you have to be a long term Bridgwater resident to have a view worthy of consideration I not accept that EDF do not have a responsibility to alleviate the traffic chaos they are likely to cause. What particularly gets me is that 25 years ago when Hinkley C was first planned at a time when there was less traffic on the roads together with a smaller proposed construction site there was a condition requiring a Dunball to Cannington bypass. So what has changed apart from the fact that the people of Bridgwater are being short changed by EDF frankly this us a disgraceful situation.

Krysiz wrote:
To start yes i'm from Bridgwater and yes so are my family not that it really makes allot of difference. And no I definitely don't work for EDF. Just because someone disagrees with you you don't need to find a motive as to why. Perhaps not everyone see's it like you. I'm sure the town council would love people blaming EDF for traffic chaos when in fact their mis-management already causes gridlock for most of the day on the major routes. Yes it's pretty obvious that something will have to be done to distribute that amount of traffic but it's not quite as simple as EDF just planning a road and building it is it. No matter where a road is planned there will be objections that's just the Bridgwater way. The NDR was planned as a Distribution road but by the time it was built I was 10 years out of date and only really there as a trunk road for yet more housing. This comes down to the council and there poor administration rather than EDF so direct your complaints at them maybe.

You really do not understand, just how far back this issue goes, let me try and inform you.
Firstly, the North & South Circular rd around Bridgwater, was thought of and planned back in 1948 -49, my late Mother worked in the then Planning Office for Bridgwater Borough Council in those days, before she left to start a Family, my eldest brother was born in 1949. Hence, I know the facts.
The Borough Council, never implemented the Plans, possibly due to financial restraints after the War.
In 1974 the Borough Council was disbanded, and Sedgemoor District Council became the Authority for Sedgemoor. The responsibility for Highways and Roads, then were taken over by Somerset County Council. With Funding for Highways coming from Central Government.
In the early 90's Hinkley C was proposed, and the possibility of the Outer Ring Road was resurrected, with the thoughts of a bridge going to Combwich Wharf from Dunball, to establish a new Link Road to facilitate the then proposed power Station, the Greens and the Anti Nuclear Factions successfully scuppered this New Nuclear Project, which it was deemed then 15-20 years ago as being needed to eleiviate Traffic which would increase on our roads in and around Bridgwater & Cannington.
Now, and for the last 5-6 years since EDF first brought to us Councillors their planned Build of Hinkley C , we fought to try and get the Bridgwater Bypass back on to the agenda, as needed for mitigated Works to enable the Traffic, to use the Roads around Bridgwater, without adding further traffic problems, already that was facing our Towns Roads.
That is why so many of us have attended many ,many meetings with David Eccles and EDF People, trying to get them to realise the need for a Bypass. But when it became known to us that from the Somerset CC Highways @ Taunton, that they had infact told EDF, that a bypass was not needed, and that they could implement Tweaks to the existing Junctions, to accommodate the EDF Extra Traffic Generated by the construction. None of us believe this to be a solution, and a viable fix. 800 HGV, 24/7 buses shipping workers to and from the Site.
Just what will they do, when the summer holiday A39 Minehead traffic builds up in the Summer, how many more accidents will there be on this stretch of road, causing traffic Chaos.
If as you say , you are local yourself, you should know that Bridgwater Town Councillors, hold the same view on this as does West Somerset Council, and Sedgemoor District Council.
We are all Dissapointed that the Minister of State did not take into account the submissions, re the need for the Bridgwater Bypass.
You talk of the NDR, this was never a bypass, just an access road to the housing development off it.
The problem still remains that wether J24 or J23 Park and ride, or HGV Transport Hubs are used all the traffic eventually meets @ Quantock Road roundabout.on the A39.
Every worker who does'nt live in the 1150 Campus on Bath Road, will drive from a 90 minute radius to the Park and rides, where they will have to park their vehicles and use the Bus/coaches to the Site. Daily for 10 years minimum, if completed on schedule, which is unlikely, with the delays up to now. The Operational build time for Generating was reactor 1
2020, with reactor 2, in 2022.
My whole argument is and was, if it was deemed to be neccessary originally, to needed then what has improved since then, nothing if anything the traffic is far worse today.
Regards Blue-Owl

The main issue for the sheer amount of accidents in and around Bridgwater is the shocking standard of driving the town seems to have to put up with from its residents and that the towns poorly thought out road network, that reached its capacity long ago.

Whoever was involved on placing zebra crossing on a roundabout needs shooting. Too many schools in a relatively small area and not enough decent roads to deal with them. Too many drivers I wouldn't let loose with a wheelbarrow, let alone a car and don't even get me started on the cyclists! And before they kick off, yes you have an equal right to use the road, but have some common sense, you are soft and squishy after all, in the same way that cars are to lorries.



I'll also add I've seen several near misses involving the wagons from Hinkley and each time it's been the other persons poor driving at fault, not the lorry driver.

uh oh, looks like someone took their car to kwikfit for a service ...

DannyDyersChocolateH
omunculus wrote:
The main issue for the sheer amount of accidents in and around Bridgwater is the shocking standard of driving the town seems to have to put up with from its residents and that the towns poorly thought out road network, that reached its capacity long ago.

Whoever was involved on placing zebra crossing on a roundabout needs shooting. Too many schools in a relatively small area and not enough decent roads to deal with them. Too many drivers I wouldn't let loose with a wheelbarrow, let alone a car and don't even get me started on the cyclists! And before they kick off, yes you have an equal right to use the road, but have some common sense, you are soft and squishy after all, in the same way that cars are to lorries.



I'll also add I've seen several near misses involving the wagons from Hinkley and each time it's been the other persons poor driving at fault, not the lorry driver.

Dannydyers----------
----etc.
You make some interesting points, re traffic matters, however, I will bet you that here's some you were not aware of. From SCC Highways Dept, Taunton. I spent 8 years, listening to Highways Dept, in meetings with them.
Traffic light controlled crossings are there not for Vehicles, but for the priority of Pedestrians, to cross the road, they take precident over cars etc.
The fact that the Majority of pedestrians, misuse these crossing points, by pressing the buttons and then crossing, whatever the colour of the red or green man!! Therefore making a mockery, as they did'nt need the assistance to make a judgement as to when to cross safely !!
Only ,then to hold up traffic, with no one @ the crossing....
Crossings Pelican or Zebra, or Toucan, again misuse by cyclist, who regularly cycle across with complete disregard for motorist approaching. I was taught as a child that you approached these crossings, stop, look, both ways, then cross if the traffic has stopped, not as they do now, walk straight out in front of cars and HGV's .
I also saw this week, someone who will remain nameless, with his two young children 5 and 3ish, cross from the Broadway, by the hospital towards Cranleigh Grd's, totally disregard the lights,crossing in front of on coming traffic, there's great or not !! I think, way of showing your young family how to cross a busy road.
We are capable, of making our own judgements, if allowed to of crossing a road safely, without the need to press buttons to assist, but if not then use this facility.
Like those who cross @ the broadway, -Taunton Rd Junction, with the traffic turning right to Taunton, in the third right hand lane, they step out from two rows of stationary traffic, unable to be seen by the oncoming drivers, or worst still the cyclist, who seem to think they have Priority everywhere!!!
David L Preece
Blue-Owl