DISGRUNTLED shop, office and business workers in Chippenham have taken to social media to voice their anger after one of the town’s busiest junctions fell victim to vital roadworks that will last for most of this month.

It has been even been affecting restaurants, with one cafe manager saying "the noise and smell" has been coming into the building. 

Resurfacing work, drainage repairs and the installation of new traffic lights will affect drivers using The Bridge roundabout until August 26.

The busy roundabout is being closed at night on weekdays, and there will be daytime temporary traffic lights while the existing permanent signals are being replaced.

Wiltshire Council says: “The works involve drainage repair, surfacing of the roundabout and the replacement of aged traffic signal equipment to improve the traffic flow through the Bridge Centre roundabout and onwards.”

The roundabout is a key traffic hub in the centre of the town, dealing with vehicles crossing Chippenham from all points of the compass.

Jamie Chapman, assistant manager at Grounded Chippenham, told the Gazette and Herald: “It has affected some people coming into town, especially in the evenings.

“We open until 10pm on Friday night and sometimes people say they cannot get through or don’t know where to park. Also, the noise and smell from the tar is coming into the restaurant.”

The work started on July 25, with the beginning of repairs to the surface water drainage system. These repairs will take place at night, between 7am and 6am, as will the resurfacing work, which started on August 1.

The drainage work was completed by July 29, but resurfacing work will continue until August 26.

While the night-time resurfacing work is going on, the only open roads around the roundabout will be Bath Road and Avenue La Fleche.

The other approaches to the centre will be closed, giving drivers the choice of going through the town centre, or a three-mile officially-recommended diversion involving Bristol Road and the A350 western bypass.

The council says no weekend work is being planned on the drainage or resurfacing projects.

It says pedestrians will be able to cross the area throughout the work, and that contractors will help motorists who require access to properties, unless the road is blocked by machinery or a surface has just been laid.

The installation of new traffic lights also began on Monday (August 1), and will mostly be done during the daytime, between 8am and 6pm, with that project finishing on Friday, August 26.

Busy commuters trying to get to and from their work in Chippenham town centre have voiced their anger at Wiltshire Council scheduling the work at the same time as work on the roundabout by the Three Crowns pub.

Posting on the Spotted Chippenham Facebook page Tom Ellaway, who works in the town, said: “The work is being done at night, but it’s not like you can clear away all the toys and work left to do. Just have to suck it up, or better yet knowing it’s there, plan ahead for extra time.”

Briony Moore added: “Traffic would flow much better if they adjusted the lights. At present, the time is the same for Avenue la Fleche and coming from the bridge. They should be set longer for Avenue la Fleche to keep it moving.”

Natalie Pitman said: “Got caught today in it. There seems to be bloody roadworks everywhere in Chippenham at the moment. What numpty agreed that.”