Residents and local businesses are bracing themselves for significant disruption as resurfacing works are set to commence along the A350 Warminster Road through Westbury next month.
The works, scheduled to begin on Monday 21st October, will run until Friday 8th November, involving a mix of 24-hour road closures and night shifts, according to National Highways.
The resurfacing will be carried out in three stages:
• Monday 21st October to Friday 25th October: Night work between 19:00 and 06:00.
• Monday 28th October to Thursday 31st October: Full 24-hour road closures.
• Friday 1st November to Friday 8th November: Night work resumes between 19:00 and 06:00.
To alleviate some of the pressure on the town, the A36 closure, which has been forcing additional traffic through Westbury, will be temporarily lifted from Friday 18th October to Friday 8th November. This move is expected to reroute heavy lorries back to the A36, reducing the burden on Westbury’s roads during the resurfacing period.
Despite these adjustments, local concern remains high. Mayor Cllr Jane Russ acknowledged the inevitable disruption, remarking, “Of course, it’s going to be hell, but if you’ve got a major road like the A350 coming through your town and you need to do work on it, it is going to be hell. There’s not much you can do, but my hope is they do a proper job.”
Wiltshire Council and contractors AtkinsRealis have assured residents that the new road surface will last up to 15 years, though Cllr Russ expressed scepticism based on past experience. “They are saying that a supportive ‘net’ will be put under the tarmac to give it a longer life but with so many lorries going over it, that’s optimistic.
“If you listen to what they are saying, then yes, it’s a proper job that will last 15 years; if you’re asking me what my experience is, then the answer is ho, ho, ho,” she said, adding that while she hopes the road won’t need further work soon, only time will tell.
“It would be great if the road isn’t going to be dug up again for the next 15 years, but we’ll have to wait and see on that one.”
Westbury resident, David Edwards, said, “I’m incredibly frustrated at the timing of these works and the inevitable traffic problems they will cause.
“As someone who regularly walks, jogs and cycles in the area, I often feel unsafe due to dangerous driving and parking,” He continued, “I would like to see more obvious efforts at trying to improve things for pedestrians and cyclists in and around Westbury, rather than resurfacing a road that doesn’t seem to need it.”
Another resident said, “This is going to be chaos. A whole week of the road being closed for 24 hours a day. Couldn’t they do it over a longer period but overnight? It will be a nightmare for residents and businesses.”
One parent added, “The 24-hour closures coincides with the school half term when families will be hoping to get out and about. You couldn’t make it up.”
The resurfacing project has been a topic of concern at local meetings, with representatives from AtkinsRealis and Wiltshire Council attending Westbury Town Council’s highways, planning and development committee meeting on 16th September to answer questions.
Local businesses and residents are encouraged to plan ahead for the upcoming disruptions, though many are hoping the temporary lifting of the A36 closure will offer some relief.
