A4 traffic: Chippenham roundabout queues after road closure

During early 2024, long queues in all directions have regularly hit drivers at Chequers Roundabout, on the edge of Chippenham, with heavy congestion affecting both the A4 and the A350.

Residents have regularly reported standstill traffic stretching back towards both Corsham and The Pheasant Roundabout along the A4, during peak hours.

Many believe traffic at the already busy roundabout has been made worse by the lengthy closure of the B4528, between Showell and Patterdown, during the construction of a roundabout on the route.

The road had been due to reopen on June 9, but Wiltshire Council says this has now been pushed back to July while works relating to the new Redcliffe Homes development are completed.

Commuters insist this “bottleneck” has created more traffic on both the A350 and the A4 as people can no longer use this alternative route into town.

Traffic on the A4 approaching Chequers Roundabout, Chippenham (Image: Newsquest)

One resident said: “The elongated closure of Patterdown… it's going to and has caused chaos.”

Another driver affected by slow traffic added: “The queue on the A4 to Chippenham now starts in Corsham, from Cross Keys traffic lights or even Hare and Hounds roundabout.

“I think the roadworks have compounded it and at least doubled the length of the queue.”

Works have also been ongoing elsewhere on the A350 at Chippenham, where vegetation is being removed near Bumpers Farm Roundabout before the road is turned into a dual carriageway.

Wiltshire Council told this paper it is aware of the rise in traffic at Chequers Roundabout and will continue to monitor the situation to assess the causes.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, the cabinet member for transport, said the increased congestion could be due to the closure at Patterdown and Showell.

Traffic on the A4 near the Patterdown closure (Image: Trevor Porter)

She added: “We are aware of reports of a rise in traffic at Chequers Roundabout in Chippenham, which could be due to drivers avoiding the current closure on the B4528 at Patterdown and Showell.

“This road closure was applied for by the developers to allow for the road infrastructure improvements for the Patterdown housing development, as well as the installation of the utility infrastructure.

“The closure at Patterdown is expected to be in place until July 2024.

“We will continue to monitor the traffic levels in the area throughout the closure period to see if we can identify any other causes that may be contributing to the traffic flows in the area."