Roads Minister visits £31.9m A350 Chippenham bypass scheme as work nears completion
The project will complete the dualling of the bypass
The Roads Minister has visited Chippenham to see progress on a £31.9m improvement scheme that will complete the dualling of the A350 Chippenham Bypass.
Justin Madders MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Roads, visited the scheme today (4th November) as major construction work approaches completion.
The project is a collaboration between Wiltshire Council, the Department for Transport (DfT), AtkinsRealis, and MJ Church, which is carrying out the construction work.
It builds on three previous phases of improvements to the A350 at Chippenham and completes Wiltshire Council's long-term programme of dualling the bypass.
What the scheme includes
The work includes dualling the remaining single-carriageway sections of the bypass.
It also includes significant improvements at Bumpers Farm Roundabout, new traffic signals and improved pedestrian and cycle crossings.
The improvements are designed to reduce congestion, make journey times more reliable, improve safety and increase capacity along the route.
They are also intended to support planned housing and employment growth in Chippenham.
The A350 is one of Wiltshire's most important roads and provides a key north-south connection through the county, linking the M4 with the south coast.
Wiltshire Council say around 24,000 vehicles a day are expected to benefit from the improvements.
How it is funded
The £31.9m scheme has received around £26.6m from the Department for Transport.
The remaining funding has come from Wiltshire Council through Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions.
Reaction
Roads Minister Justin Madders said: "It's clear from the work I've seen today how vital this project is to the people in Chippenham and the wider region.
"It was great to see how the Government's £26.6m investment in this scheme is being used, improving people's day to day journeys and boosting growth."
Councillor Martin Smith, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Highways, said: "We were delighted to welcome Justin Madders MP, the Roads Minister, to Chippenham today."
“This scheme represents a hugely important investment in one of Wiltshire’s busiest and most strategically important roads for residents and businesses throughout our county and beyond.
“These improvements will provide more capacity, make journeys safer and more reliable, and support the future growth of Chippenham and the wider area.
“This has been a major construction project and we’re very grateful to residents, businesses and everyone who uses the A350 for their patience while the work has taken place.”
Claire Coetzee, Civil Engineering Director at MJ Church, said: "Delivering the A350 improvement scheme on time and under budget demonstrates what can be achieved when design, innovation, collaboration and disciplined delivery come together."
Community and environmental work
As well as the highway improvements, the project has included work with the local community and environmental initiatives.
MJ Church has supported local organisations during the construction period, including work to improve accessibility at Vincients Wood.
The project has also reduced its expected construction carbon impact by 20% through measures including the reuse of materials and more efficient use of plant.