Upgrade for Chippenham bypass.

[Bumper’s Farm Roundabout © Google Street View]

Some good news for drivers across Wiltshire will see journey times cut by up to 25 per cent, as the Government today announces it’s giving more than £26m towards upgrading the A350 Chippenham bypass.

Local residents will benefit from reduced traffic on more local routes, better road safety, and better access to jobs in the area. Businesses are expected to save time and money, as goods can travel more freely with improved access to a key part of the UK’s road freight network.

One of the most important routes connecting the south coast with the M4 and onwards to Bristol and the Midlands, the upgrades include dualling two sections of the road and improving the Bumpers Farm Roundabout. The government is contributing £26.6m to the total cost of the project, which was £32.3m.

The Government says it’s determined to speed up the delivery of infrastructure across the UK, which includes improving the UK’s road network for economic growth. As well as faster journeys, drivers are also set to benefit from improved road surfaces, thanks to a recently announced record £1.6 billion investment to fill the equivalent of seven million potholes and repair roads, including £32 million for Wiltshire’s roads.

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.”

Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways at Wiltshire Council, 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.”

Phil Smith, Managing Director, Business West, said: “This is certainly good news for Wiltshire’s economy. It will improve connectivity across the county’s towns, and beyond, creating better access to jobs, and aiding the transport of goods. Wiltshire has an important role to play in our nation’s productivity and we welcome this news.”

This is part of the Government’s approval of four transformative schemes across the UK; the A350 Chippenham Bypass Phases 4 & 5 in Wiltshire, A647 Dawsons Corner and Stanningley Bypass in Leeds, South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR) in Buckinghamshire, and the A127/A130 Fairglen Interchange in Essex.

A total of £90m for the four schemes is being contributed by the Government, expected to generate millions more to the UK economy. This is part of the Government’s Plan for Change to renew infrastructure and raise living standards across the UK. 

NB. The Chippenham Bypass scheme’s total cost is £32.315m. The requested DfT capital funding contribution in total is £26.625m. Other scheme costs would be provided by the Council.