Work to begin on cycling and walking routes

Improvement work to cycling and walking routes is set to take place on the A346 in Marlborough

Eight weeks of roadworks are set to begin as walking and cycling facilities in a Wiltshire town are due to be improved.

The work will start from 2 September with Wiltshire Council due to install a toucan crossing and extend a shared use path on the A346 Salisbury Road in Marlborough.

Four-way temporary traffic lights and pedestrian diversion routes will be in place during the work, which will be carried out Monday to Friday, during the hours of 09:30 and 15:30 BST.

Cabinet member for transport, Tamara Reay, said the work is part of a "bigger project" and will eventually link a traffic-free route from both the east and west of the town.

“Although other aspects of the path are yet to be completed, this work is the first step in our longer-term plan to create safe and convenient active travel connected links through Marlborough and is well supported locally," she said.

The existing shared use path on Blenheim Road will be extended to the point of the toucan crossing and will continue to a new shared use path away from Salisbury Road and up the embankment in front of Tesco car park.

The council said this will allow residents to safely walk, cycle, or wheel to schools, nearby residential areas, the town centre, Marlborough Business Park, and Tesco.

The work will take around two months to complete and outside of working hours, traffic should flow as normal.

Ms Reay apologised for any disruption caused during the work.