Plan for M4 to south coast corridor to avoid Bath, through West Wiltshire

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Lorries and other traffic heading to the south coast from the M4 should be routed through Wiltshire instead of Bath, according to a government study.

Currently, the designated route from the M4 to the Dorset coast is via the A46 and A36, funnelling it across Cleveland Bridge and through Bath. But a National Highways' study has recommended making the A350 in Wiltshire the designated route instead.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) said it would make a "hugely positive impact" to traffic in the city. Wiltshire Council said it would need to secure investment but the finding was "a vital first positive step" towards improvements.

To avoid Bath, the agency's M4 to Dorset Coast Study recommends traffic should follow the A350 via Chippenham, Melksham and Westbury and then join the A36 at Warminster.  HGVs already have to find alternative routes due to an 18-tonne weight limit on Cleveland Bridge in Bath, introduced in 2021.

Manda Rigby, BANES cabinet member for transport, said the authority was "delighted at this outcome".  "No longer will Bath be seen as the preferred route for HGVs between the M4 and the south coast," she said.  "This will have a hugely positive impact on traffic flows long term in Bath and north east Somerset and air quality enhancements."



Parvis Khansari, from Wiltshire Council, said it will mean highway improvements could be made at "several key points in the county" including Melksham, Westbury, Warminster and Salisbury.  "This corridor is not only essential for regional travel, but these strategic roads also provide vital links between many of our towns and villages here in Wiltshire and so improving them will benefit us all," he said.  "There is a long way to go before we can secure this investment and make these improvements a reality, but this is a vital first positive step in the right direction."

[Clan Line]

I read this yesterday online and have to assume that whoever wrote this “Study” lives in Outer Mongolia and has never set foot in England, let alone Wiltshire !

It purports to talk about “M4 to the Dorset coast” route. It proposes sending the traffic through Melksham & Westbury to Warminster. Traffic “through” Melksham (no real bypass) is bad, Westbury is a nightmare already. Oh......... and Yarnbrook roundabout and West Ashton lights !

OK, let’s accept this fairy tale to that point. Where does the traffic go from Warminster ? The A350 to Shaftesbury is reasonable – apart from the very steep hill into Shaftesbury itself – then no bypass. The A350 to Blandford must be one of the worst roads in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). They are already routing HGVs through Melbury Abbas and Spread Eagle Hill.

The other option is to send the traffic down the A36 from Warminster to Salisbury, thence to  the “Dorset Coast” Another lunatic option ! Has anyone ever driven along the Inner Ring Road & Southampton Rd in Salisbury ??

What makes this “Study” even more infuriating and out of touch is that two of the really bad pinch points on these routes have been well on the route to getting “proper” by-passes in the past. The Salisbury by-pass was ditched by John Prescott in 97/98. The Westbury by-pass was funded, until the “nimby” lobby struck and the money went elsewhere , I believe it was used to  (RE^▸ (Religious Education) !!) double up the rail route through Stroud.

This is yet another absolute classic of the inept/incompetent so-called transport planning we suffer from. Add this to HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) and the Stonehenge bypass fiascos.

[ellendune]

The objective is to avoid Bath. 

The proposed route is the A350 as far as Warminster then the A36

It is not ideal I agree, but the existing route is the A46 from the M4 to Bath then the A36 from there. So there is no change in route from Warminster to the Dorset Coast.

Perhaps they should route it by Rail instead.

[paul7575]

Warminster to Dorset strategic route remains via the A36 to M27 junction 2, then westward via the A31. I saw a discussion on the SABRE roads forum…

Paul

[Clan Line]

The objective is to avoid Bath. 

Bath is already "avoided" ! The closure of the Cleveland Bridge has already stopped heavy traffic from the A46 getting onto the A36 - as it used to do. This has moved traffic from the A46 to the A350. Bath has dumped its HGV problem onto West Wiltshire

The proposed route is the A350 as far as Warminster then the A36

You are just repeating what this useless Study is saying. The A350 and the A36 are barely capable of handling the existing traffic at the moment. To get it to the required capacity will take  £ Billions and 25+ years !

It is not ideal I agree, but the existing route is the A46 from the M4 to Bath then the A36 from there. So there is no change in route from Warminster to the Dorset Coast.

The "existing route" is not A46 to A36 even now, except in the simplistic minds of the "Study" who just seem to look at Google Maps. - unless the traffic goes over Bathampton Toll Bridge ! The proposed A350/A36 route is not "ideal" - it has just not been thought out. Even worse I don't think anyone has ever driven down that route.

[Clan Line]

Warminster to Dorset strategic route remains via the A36 to M27 junction 2, then westward via the A31. I saw a discussion on the SABRE roads forum…

Paul

Just because someone has decided to call a route "strategic" doesn't mean it is capable of handling the required traffic volumes.  If only ...............

[ellendune]

Warminster to Dorset strategic route remains via the A36 to M27 junction 2, then westward via the A31. I saw a discussion on the SABRE roads forum…

Paul

Just because someone has decided to call a route "strategic" doesn't mean it is capable of handling the required traffic volumes.  If only ...............

Totally agree.  All they are going to do as I understand it, is change the sign posts.  Though if they ever have money to spend on improvements it will be part of the justification. 

[ellendune]

The objective is to avoid Bath. 

Bath is already "avoided" ! The closure of the Cleveland Bridge has already stopped heavy traffic from the A46 getting onto the A36 - as it used to do. This has moved traffic from the A46 to the A350. Bath has dumped its HGV problem onto West Wiltshire

Yes that is their problem, the strategic route they had before doesn't work any more so they need a new one.  When they planned it I think they assumed they could build the now aborted Swainswick - Batheaston bypass to avoid Bath. 

[Clan Line]

Yes that is their problem, the strategic route they had before doesn't work any more so they need a new one.  When they planned it I think they assumed they could build the now aborted Swainswick - Batheaston bypass to avoid Bath. 

You are spot on there !  When the "proper" A46/A36 link was cancelled, that really made the remaining work that was carried on the A46/A4 out a complete waste of time and money and achieved absolutely zilch.