Wiltshire Council to start work on final phase of A350 Chippenham dualling as Government approves £26m funding

In total, the council has been awarded £26.625m from the Department for Transport (DfT) towards the project, which is expected to cost around £32m overall. The council will be providing local contributions as part of the residual required funding to pay for the project.

In December 2023, the council identified Chippenham-based MJ Church as the contractor for the project and they are working closely together ahead of starting the project in the spring. The work is expected to last 18 months and should be completed by winter 2026.

Phases 4 and 5 are the final stages of the dualling project and will turn the remaining single carriageway sections of the A350 at Chippenham into dual carriageways, while also improving Bumpers Farm roundabout.

The project will improve access to and from Bumpers Farm industrial estate, while also enhancing journey times on the A350. This key route connects the M4 to the south coast and serves as a vital road for communities in the north and west of Wiltshire.

Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways, 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.

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.

Before the work starts, the council and MJ Church will be holding a 'meet the contractor' event and also be presenting updates at Chippenham Area Board; details of these will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

To find out more about the project, people should go to www.wiltshire.gov.uk/highways-improvements-a350.