Major scheme to improve access to Chippenham Railway Station

New Road and Station Hill is the next area to benefit from improvements as part of the £1.98 million package of transport measures aimed at improving pedestrian and cyclist access to Chippenham railway station.

This major scheme will see new traffic signals installed at the junction of New Road and Station Hill together with new upgraded crossings to the north of the railway arch around New Road, Ivy Lane and Marshfield Road.

These improvements, which start on Monday 25 January 2021, will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption and ensure the works can be completed as quickly as possible.

Phase One involves the installation of traffic signals and associated infrastructure around the New Road and Station Hill junction. During this period New Road, between Marshfield Road and Station Hill, will be closed (through the railway arch). Temporary traffic lights will operate between New Road and Station Hill and a temporary diversion will be in place via New Road, The Bridge, Bath Road and Ivy Lane. This work is anticipated to last for 6 weeks from Monday 25 January 2021.

Phase Two includes replacing the existing Zebra Crossing with a Toucan Crossing on Marshfield Road (outside St Pauls House), with work extending into New Road. A short section of the A420 outside of St Pauls House will be closed for traffic coming from New Road. A diversion will be in place via New Road, The Bridge, Bath Road and Ivy Lane. This work is anticipated to take up to 3 weeks and will commence upon completion of phase one.

Phase Three consists of replacing and upgrading the pedestrian crossing on Ivy Lane (opposite the railway arches). This work will be carried out alongside phase two. It is not anticipated that any additional traffic management will be required. Work within this phase is expected to take up to 2 weeks to complete.

Phase Four will involve replacing and upgrading the existing pedestrian crossing on A420 Ivy Lane / Marshfield Road, outside of Bewley's House. The road will be closed for up to 2 weeks, with a diversion via Bath Road, West Cepen Way and Marshfield Road.

The final phase includes extensive resurfacing of the road on New Road and The Bridge (south of the railway arch to the junction with Bath Road, on Station Hill (up to St Martin's Church) and around Ivy Lane (between the two railway arches). This phase will start once phase three has been completed and where the removal of traffic management associated with phase two allows.

Works will be carried out between 8am and 6pm including Saturdays.

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: "This complex project has been carefully planned to ensure the works that will cause most disruption take place during the period of national restrictions when there is less traffic on these roads and to minimise potential disruption to the town centre. We have also worked closely with utility companies to reschedule their maintenance works minimising further inconvenience to road users.

"A full-time clerk of works will be on site during the construction phase to liaise with local shops to minimise the impact the works will have on their customers and deliveries.

"We have made every effort to ensure these major improvement works are carried out as swiftly as possible and with minimal disruption to local people. Once completed, this scheme will complement other projects which have taken place in the area supporting more sustainable methods of travel to Chippenham Railway Station."

Details for the various phases, including traffic management arrangements and diversion routes, will be available shortly on the council's website www.wiltshire.gov.uk/highways-improvements. Further details on progress and future traffic management requirements linked to the resurfacing phase will be available on this webpage as well.

These improvements are part of the larger £16 million Station Hub project, funded by the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) through the Local Growth Fund, to develop the station and its surrounding area.

Paddy Bradley, SWLEP CEO said of the works: "We're glad to see another milestone met for the Station Hub upgrade. This important project will help develop access to the station for both cyclists and pedestrians using Chippenham Station. Crucially the work will help bring together the components of the station improvements and assist the long-term development of Chippenham and its economy."