Construction is due to start on a major A-road this spring after a £32 million dual carriageway plan was approved.
On Friday, February 7, the government announced that Wiltshire Council had been granted permission to proceed with stages four and five of the A350 dual carriageway development in Chippenham.
This will involve 18 months of extensive construction to convert the remaining single-lane sections of the bypass into dual carriageways.
The A350 between Chequers and Lackham Roundabouts, as well as Bumpers Farm and Cepen Park South Roundabouts, will be the primary focus of the project.
It will also include upgrades to Bumpers Farm Roundabout, and the project is expected to reduce journey times by 25% once done.
Wiltshire Council now plans to begin building on the route this spring and will provide additional information in the coming weeks.
The work is planned to take around 18 months and will be completed in the winter of 2026.
The entire cost of the improvements is projected to be around £32 million, with the Department for Transport providing the council with £26.6 million in financing.
The council is presently working closely with its contractor, MJ Church, who was hired in December 2023, ahead of the start of construction.
The general election delayed the project by around a year, since Wiltshire Council had intended to receive consent from the Department for Transport in time to begin work last spring.
The preliminary work, which included vegetation clearing in the area, was completed in early 2024.
Residents have previously expressed concern about the impact of such a huge construction project on one of Wiltshire’s busiest roads.
Before any additional work begins, the council will host a’meet the contractor’ event and make a presentation to the Chippenham Area Board.
Cllr Nick Holder, cabinet member for highways, stated, “We’re delighted to have received this funding from the Department of Transport, and we can now get on with delivering the project.”
“The final stages of dualling the A350 in this area will improve journey times, boost vehicle capacity, and assist reduce congestion, while also enhancing the Bumpers Farm roundabout to increase traffic flows, especially in the nights.
“We now look forward to work starting on the ground in the spring and the project being completed in 2026.”
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