Further improvements to A350 around Chippenham

Drivers should see journey times improved even further on the A350 around Chippenham as Wiltshire Council carries out starts £3.4m improvement work.

Work to improve traffic flow started on 6 July, and although there will be some disruption on what is a very busy route, the council is doing everything it can to minimise this by avoiding the use of traffic lights.

During construction a 30mph limit will be in place to ensure the safety of the site staff, and will allow the road to be kept open to two-way traffic throughout. There will be a series of overnight closures to allow specific items of work to be carried out safely.

The work is due to be finished in early 2016.

Philip Whitehead, cabinet member for highways, said: “This is a very important route, one which has typically been a bottleneck. Although there will be some disruption while the work is ongoing, the outcome will improve journey times and ease the congestion around this area. Wiltshire is already very well connected in terms of transport links and this investment will bring economic benefits to the county as Wiltshire becomes an even more appealing place for businesses looking to relocate to.”

Currently restrictions to the capacity of the A350 at Chippenham create congestion on the approaches from the M4 Junction 17 and Chippenham Bypass West Cepen Way. This causes significant delays during peak hours for traffic accessing the town and the A350 corridor through the county.

The improvement to the A350 at Chippenham will see:

• The dualling of the A350 in both directions on West Cepen Way between Bumpers Farm Roundabout (A420) and Brook Roundabout
• Improvements to the A350 on both approaches to Bumpers Farm Roundabout
• Improvements to the A350 on both approaches to Brook Roundabout

The scheme will be part-funded with money from a successful bid to the Local Transport Body, through the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP).

The budget for the project is £3.356m, and it will deliver the benefit of less congestion and greater journey time certainty and savings.

There are outline plans to begin work to dual the remaining sections of the A350 from Badger Roundabout (Morrison) to Checkers Roundabout (A4) in 2017. For further information see our Projects page.