Engagement begins today on plans to improve three junctions in the Salisbury area for motorists, cyclists and walkers

The proposals are at an early stage, but if approved they would see all three junctions reconfigured to increase capacity and improve journey times and reduce queues for motor vehicles. They would also improve facilities for walking and cycling to link the city's active travel routes and make it easier for people to choose to leave their car at home, if they wish to.

The consultation begins this evening with a presentation and Q&A session at Salisbury Area Board, and for those who cannot make it, there will then be two online webinars for people to hear more about the scheme and ask questions - on Thursday 24 June at 3pm, and Tuesday 29 June at 6pm.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "It's really important that people take the time to share their views on this project, which will help to keep traffic in the Salisbury area moving.

"If approved, these changes will increase capacity at the junctions for motorists and improve journey times, and link with existing cycling and walking routes to improve active travel links in the area.

"The feedback we gather now will be used to create an Outline Business Case, which will be submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) later in the summer. If the scheme is then approved by DfT, there will be another consultation and engagement exercise, followed by the preparation of a Final Business Case, with construction hoped to begin in later 2023.

"Of course, we recognise that this scheme alone will not be the solution to traffic issues in the Salisbury area, but it will improve traffic flows on our network. We are working with Highways England, which manages the A36, to find further solutions to improve traffic on the strategic road network."

The engagement exercise runs from today (Thursday 17 June) until 23:59 on Sunday 18 July. Find out more about the scheme, sign up for one of the engagement events, and take the survey.