£26m to be invested in A350 Chippenham bypass improvements
It's hoped the upgrades will trim journey times by 25%
Travel times on Wiltshire's roads are set to be slashed by a quarter thanks to Government handing out more than £26m to upgrade the A350 Chippenham bypass.
It's hoped that it will also reduce air pollution and boost safety and is part of No. 10's commitment to prioritising road schemes that give value for money, as well as renewing the nations infrastructure.
The Government is contributing £26.6m to the project, which has a total cost of £32m, with other organisations making up the remaining £5.4m.
The planned upgrades include dualling two sections of the road as well as making improvements to the Bumpers Farm Roundabout.
It's hoped that local people will benefit from less traffic on routes in the area, while roads are safety and jobs are easier to access.
Businesses will gain too as goods can move with greater freedom, saving time and money.
The Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: “Drivers on the Chippenham Bypass have experienced unpredictable journey times for too long, which is not good enough for a primary north-south route.
“We’re giving this vital scheme the green light, and providing £26.6m to the scheme, which will improve local journeys in Wiltshire and boost the economy beyond.”
Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways at Wiltshire Council, said: “We’re delighted to have received this funding from the Department for Transport and we can now get on with delivering the project.
“The A350 is a key route connecting the M4 to the south coast, and so it is important to not just Wiltshire, but also the wider region to move ahead with this project to meet our Business Plan commitment to have well-connected communities.
“The final phases of dualling the A350 in this area will enhance journey times, increase vehicle capacity and help alleviate congestion, while also improving the Bumpers Farm roundabout to increase traffic flows on their roundabout, particularly in the evenings.
“We now look forward to work starting on the ground in the spring and the project being completed in 2026.”
Phil Smith, Managing Director, Business West, said: “This is certainly good news for Wiltshire’s economy. It will improve connectivity across the county’s towns, and beyond, creating better access to jobs, and aiding the transport of goods. Wiltshire has an important role to play in our nation’s productivity and we welcome this news.”
This is part of the Government's approval of four transformative schemes across the UK; the A350 Chippenham Bypass Phases 4 & 5 in Wiltshire, A647 Dawsons Corner and Stanningley Bypass in Leeds, South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR) in Buckinghamshire, and the A127/A130 Fairglen Interchange in Essex.
A total of £90m for the four schemes is being contributed by the Government, expected to generate millions more to the UK economy. This is part of the Government’s Plan for Change to renew infrastructure and raise living standards across the UK.
The Government is determined to speed up the delivery of infrastructure across the UK, which includes improving the UK’s road network for economic growth. As well as faster journeys, drivers are also set to benefit from improved road surfaces, thanks to a recently announced record £1.6 billion investment to fill the equivalent of seven million potholes and repair roads, including £32 million for Wiltshire’s roads.