Improvements to Castle Street in Trowbridge starts next week

The second in a series of highway projects that form part of the £16 million package of town centre improvements funded through the government's Future High Streets Fund, is due to start next week.

From Tuesday 30 May 2023 public realm improvements will start to be carried out at Castle Street in Trowbridge. The works will be undertaken in two main phases with completion anticipated in November 2023.

The building of the St Stephen's Place complex with its cinema, restaurants and other attractions, means that Castle Street now acts as a key pedestrian link from this development into the town centre. Previous enhancement schemes did not extend into Castle Street and so it can feel a bit detached from the town centre. The intention is to enhance Castle Street and reinforce the connection between the St Stephen's Place complex and the town centre. Due to the need to service businesses, traffic will not be removed from Castle Street but the pedestrian routes will be enhanced, with improved crossing points and widening of the narrowest footpaths.

The first phase of the scheme will take place between Cradle Bridge and the Court Street roundabout. This area will be enhanced with changes to the footpath surface material to provide a more attractive pedestrian route with soft landscaping, tree pruning and planting creating a softer and more welcoming route into the town centre. Street lighting will also be upgraded, and bus shelters and seating areas provided.

The existing pedestrian refuge islands around the Court Street/St Stephen's Place roundabout will be altered to create more direct crossings, with wider waiting areas to accommodate pedestrians, wheelchair users, mobility scooters and cycles.

This first phase of works will commence on 30 May and is expected to be complete in mid-August 2023. During this time, a one-way system will be in place between Cradle Bridge and the Court Street roundabout, allowing traffic to travel northbound on Castle Street only.  Temporary traffic signals will also be in place at the Court Street roundabout to safely manage traffic movements during this time.

The second phase will see construction works take place on the northern section of Castle Street, from Court Street to Market Street. 

This will involve enhancing the route for pedestrians with widening of the eastern footpath (from the taxi office to outside the Toy Shop) with footpaths on both sides being paved to tie in with the existing slabbed footpaths on Market Street.

Enhanced informal crossings, with dropped kerbs and tactile paving, are also being provided through this section of Castle Street to aid pedestrians.

Alongside these works, alterations will be made to the Zebra crossing outside of The Shires entrance to bring this to current standards. This includes providing tactile paving to assist visually impaired people and alterations to the kerb line to create a level crossing point.

The works in the northern section of Castle Street will require the road to be closed to traffic. This will be undertaken in two stages to maintain access for businesses. Further detail regarding these closures will be released prior to the start of this phase.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, Wiltshire Council's Cabinet Member for Transport, said: One of our key priorities is to create vibrant and well-connected communities so we're really pleased that the next scheme to improve walking and cycling access in and around the town centre will be starting next week.

We appreciate there will be some disruption, but every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum wherever possible, including working closely with Trowbridge Town Council, local traders and organisers of town events to ensure disruption is minimised. All local amenities in this area will remain open and accessible during the construction period.

To find out more about the schemes visit: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fhsf-trowbridge.