Motorists have been hit by traffic delays on a busy Wiltshire A-road as work to transform the route into a dual carriageway begins.

Tree felling works in preparation for the A350 dualling project at Chippenham began in the Bumpers Farm Roundabout area on Wednesday, January 17, and will continue until March 20, according to Wiltshire Council.

The council closed a lane at Bumpers Farm Roundabout while the vegetation clearance works were carried out.

This caused some lengthy queues on the A350 in both directions throughout Wednesday and Thursday, while congestion was worsened by reports of a broken down vehicle at Chequers Roundabout on Wednesday afternoon.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: A350 roadworks at Bumpers Farm RoundaboutA350 roadworks at Bumpers Farm Roundabout (Image: Trevor Porter)

The roadworks stretch from the Cepen Park South Roundabout to Brook Roundabout.

Similar works are scheduled to take place between the Lackham and Chequers Roundabouts until the end of February.

These advanced works are being carried out ahead of phases four and five of the £20.7 million A350 dualling project and include extensive tree felling and vegetation removal along the side of the busy route.

Wiltshire Council expects to start construction on the final phases of the scheme in the spring of 2024, pending approval from the Department of Transport.

Once completed the entire bypass will be turned into a dual carriageway.