Works planned to ease congestion on major road

A £23m project to help ease city congestion is due to get under way in the new year.

National Highways will start the first stage of A36 works in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in January.

The project, which will be carried out over the next six years, will see single lane and full lane closures during the day and overnight, with signed diversions in place.

Maria Testa Borjon from National Highways, said: "We appreciate road closures can be frustrating, but we're unable to carry out the work while the road is fully open to traffic and we're carefully planning the programme with Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council and Southern Gas Networks."

The National Highways project, which begins in January, will see new adaptive traffic signals installed over 11 weeks at the Castle and St Mark's roundabouts.

Upgrades at St Paul's roundabout will follow between June and July, ahead of essential resurfacing work at the Castle and St Paul's roundabouts and Wilton Road.

National Highways Route Manager Chris Hilldrup said: "The A36 is the main arterial route through Salisbury – carrying an average of 33,500 vehicles a day between the College and St Mark's roundabouts – and helps connect the south coast with Bristol, Bath and London.

"As part of this investment we're carrying out a number of schemes which will reduce congestion, improve safety, create more reliable journey times and ultimately support Salisbury's long-term economic growth."

Other changes included in the A36 project include resurfacing of road surfaces, an upgrade of the Southampton Road pedestrian crossing and the replacement of the Victoria Road footbridge to improve accessibility.

The most impactful work has been planned to avoid Salisbury's 2027 celebrations to mark its 800th Royal Charter year, National Highways added.

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