GAZETTE & HERALD: RUSH-HOUR traffic came to a standstill in Chippenham this week when two sets of temporary traffic lights were put up.

Now drivers travelling to and from work have been warned to be prepared for delays for the next two weeks.

Redrow Homes is building houses behind the old Allington school site at the Foley roundabout. The company needs to connect to the main sewage works, which will involve four-way traffic lights until January 31.

At the busiest periods, traffic jams stretched in all four directions from the Foley roundabout down Bristol Road, Marshfield Road, Hardenhuish Lane and Hungerdown Lane.

Wiltshire County Council also began work on the pedestrian crossing at Brunel's Western Arches, causing traffic queues in New Road and Malmesbury Road.

This work is the initial phase before the subway is filled in starting on Monday. Sets of temporary traffic lights will be operating.

This week ducting, wires and pipes for the New Road crossing are being put down in preparation for the filling of the subway.

A county council spokesman said the pedestrian crossing has to be finished before work starts on the subway so people can cross the road safely.

The subway work is scheduled to last ten weeks and New Road may have to be closed for a short time.

The spokesman said: "The majority of the work will be off the road.

"We will try to keep disruption to a minimum and let the public know what we are doing at each stage."

Chippenham Mayor Ross Henning said: "People complain about the state of the roads then complain when people come along to make them better.

"But thankfully this work is being done at a quieter period, after Christmas.

"We were very disappointed when work on the arches was carried out at one of the busiest times for the town before Christmas."