WORK will start later this month on a new £8m congestion-busting road across Taunton.

The Third Way, which is expected to open in December next year, will provide a link from Tangier with a new bridge across the River Tone to Wood Street junction.

It will pass through Greenbrook Terrace car park, which will close permanently, and relieve pressure on the traffic clogged town centre.

There may also be pedestrian only zones or restricted access areas in the centre at certain times of the day.

The scheme will include improvements to the Wood Street/Bridge Street junction, although they will not be started until after Christmas to minimise traffic disruption.

Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew, Somerset County Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “This new route will bring many benefits to Taunton by improving the environment for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users within the main shopping streets of the town.

“The council will work closely with the contractors to keep disruption to a minimum.”

The Third Way includes: *a new bridge over the River Tone to the west of Goodland Gardens; *a new bridge over the Mill Stream to replace the existing temporary bridge; *approximately 150m of new carriageway together with the realignment of a further 300m; *two new signalised junctions; *improvements to the existing Bridge Street/Wood Street junction; *pedestrian and cycle facilities.

The work will be carried out by contractors Morrison Construction.