MAJOR improvements at two busy junctions in northern Bridgwater will start in January.

The improvements will be carried out at the Bristol Road and Wylds Road junctions on The Drove.

The key benefits of the scheme are to make it easier to turn left from Western Way into Wylds Road and to provide more space for vehicles to wait to turn right from Bristol Road into the Drove so as not to hold up traffic wanting to go straight on into Bridgwater.

The traffic lights will be upgraded, the junctions will be adjusted and crossing points for cyclists and pedestrians improved.

The new lights will interact with other lights in the town, improving drivers' journeys through Bridgwater. The improvements at these junctions will be complete by late summer.

A temporary one way system is planned whilst the works are underway. This system has been modelled to be the best solution based on the construction of the scheme and will help to reduce the duration of the works by 15 weeks.

The work is part of the agreed schedule of improvements required for the construction of Hinkley Point C.

David Eccles of EDF Energy said: "We are writing to residents and businesses inviting them to a drop-in meeting later this year to find out more about the improvement work.

"We are working closely with Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council to minimise disruption. "Traffic lights will be manually controlled during busy periods to react quickly to a peak in traffic from a particular direction and use that important human element to decide what needs priority rather than leaving it to a computer.”

Mr Eccles gave a presentation on the works to Sedgemoor District Council on Wednesday.

Some councillors criticised the plan for a lack of detail, with Labour councillors saying it raised more questions than answers, however Mr Eccles said the plan was a draft for consultation.

Cllr Leigh Redman said: "I was surprised this was the first time myself and other local councillors had set sights on this plan from which proposes turning parts of Wylds Road and Bristol Road into one way streets, allowing traffic to flow as they work on these junctions at the same time.

"My question is what are they going to do for the businesses affected by this?"

Mr Eccles said: "It is inevitable there will be disruption, and we have to figure out the least bad way of organising traffic during construction of Hinkley C.”

A presentation will be given and discussed at Bridgwater Town Council's meeting on Thursday, October 27 at 7.30pm.

A spokesman from Sedgemoor District Council said: “The junction improvements have been agreed by the Secretary of State as part of the Hinkley Point C project.

“The works will of course have a temporary impact on the flow of traffic and all parties are seeking to minimise this. SDC have been keen to emphasise the need to keep the town moving and to minimise construction time but we do recognise that the works must be done.

“When complete the junctions will be permanently improved to support the town in the longer term.”

A £16 million package of road improvement schemes has already been delivered by EDF Energy in Somerset to keep traffic flowing, this is the next stage of the upgrades.

Elsewhere in Bridgwater traffic news, there will be overnight roadworks at Huntworth Roundabout this week to enable final resurfacing and street lighting works.

One way traffic lights will be used between 7pm and 6am from today (Tuesday) to Friday, operated manually to minimise disruption.

Cllr David Fothergill, Somerset County Council’s cabinet member for Highways, said: “I would like to thank residents and drivers for their patience whilst we finish these important works.

"I am pleased that we have managed to complete the remaining works before the Bridgwater and North Petherton Carnivals.

“We have ensured that management of the continued works off the roundabout itself will minimise disruption to keep traffic moving as much as possible.

"It is expected that this final part of the works will be complete by early November.”