A346 traffic set to be hit by roadworks in Wiltshire town

Wiltshire Council will be improving cycling and walking routes on the A346 Salisbury Road in Marlborough by installing a toucan crossing and extending a shared use path.

It is hoped this will help unlock more cycling, walking, and wheeling facilities and the council ultimately aims to create a traffic-free route stretching from the east of the town to the west, via the town centre.

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The A346 Salisbury Road (Image: Google Maps)

Roadworks will begin on Monday, September 2, and will take around two months to complete.

During this time, there will be four-way temporary traffic signals and pedestrian diversion routes in place on the A346 Salisbury Road roundabout.

To reduce disruption, the traffic lights will only be operational between 9.30am and 3.30pm, from Monday to Friday, and traffic should flow as usual outside these hours. 

Cllr Tamara Reay, cabinet member for transport, said: “We apologise for any disruption caused during this time, and we appreciate that there have been a number of urgent roadworks carried out in Marlborough recently.

“Unfortunately, due to the nature of the works, they cannot be carried out safely overnight, but we have done all we can to minimise disruption by restricting the working hours.

“We’re excited to see the finished project that will help enhance the local network and improve connectivity in the area.”

The new toucan crossing will connect to the extended shared use path, which is currently on Blenheim Road.

This path will stretch to another new shared use path which will run away from Salisbury Road and up the embankment in front of Tesco car park.

The council says this will allow residents to safely walk, cycle, or wheel to schools, nearby residential areas, the town centre, Marlborough Business Park, and Tesco.

The A346 Salisbury Road (Image: Google Maps)

The dropped kerbs and tactile paving on the roundabout’s splitter island will also be removed to encourage use of the signal crossing, and the footway will be widened on the western side.

Cllr Reay added: “This work is an exciting start to a bigger project we have planned to unlock future cycling and walking opportunities in Marlborough, and eventually link a traffic-free route from the east and west of the town to the centre.

“Although other aspects of the path are yet to be completed, this work is the first step in our longer-term plan to create safe and convenient active travel links through Marlborough and is well supported locally.”