The Belfast-based company boasts revenue of around £70m, specialising in materials and contracting.

Construction will now get underway on 4 April. Whitemountain will build a 950m-long access road to serve the Colley Lane Industrial Estate in the town.

This will include construction of two bridges; one an in-situ concrete arch structure over the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal and the second a 52m long single span steel composite bridge over the tidal River Parrett.

The route of the new link road crosses the site of a former brick works, where the clay extraction pit has been filled with cellophane waste. The approach embankment to the new bridge over the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal will need to be constructed over this.

Mark Kelly, MD of Whitemountain, said: “We are delighted to deliver the much anticipated Colley Lane Southern Access Road Project on behalf of Somerset County Council and fully understand the importance of the project to the local community. Whitemountain are committed to delivering a quality project that exceeds client expectations on time and within budget.

“We look forward to engaging with and supporting Somerset County Council and are committed to providing social value and community welfare in the delivery of the project, fully aligned with Somerset County Council’s Sustainability Plan”

The new carriageway will mean motorists can access the Colley Lane Industrial Estate from the South and avoid travelling on Taunton Road during rush hour traffic.

It will also open up brownfield development sites between the River Parrett and the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal to support the delivery of planned housing and employment land.

Hinkley Point nuclear power station developer EDF is contributing £2m to the project as part of a £100m committment to support community projects.