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Carriageway - BACK TO TOP
In total the proposed scheme would comprise of approximately 5.4 kilometres of new single carriageway around the eastern and northern sides of Westbury and would provide:
- A new route for the A350 primary route currently passing through the town.
- Strategic road access to the West Wiltshire Trading Estate.
Click to enlarge map
Roundabouts would connect the bypass to the existing A350 both north and south of the town, between which there would be no junctions.
The route consists of the following sections:
- Junction with A350 at proposed roundabout immediately south of Madbrook Farm running north easterly to the B3098 Bratton Road with a climbing lane between Bratton Road and Newtown.
- Bridges under Newtown and over the B3098 Bratton Road and railway to the proposed Cement Works roundabout on the existing A350 immediately north of the railway line.
- Glenmore section: a 1.2 km long single carriageway running to the west between the proposed Cement Works roundabout and the proposed roundabout adjacent to Glenmore Farm with a second railway bridge near the western end.
- Hawkeridge section: a 0.4 km long realignment of the B3097 Hawkeridge Road between the proposed Glenmore Farm roundabout and the proposed new roundabout at the entrance to the West Wiltshire Trading Estate at the northern end of the improved section of B3097, adjacent to Hawkeridge Farm.
- In addition to the above a 0.55 km length of the B3098 Bratton Road would be realigned slightly to the south of its existing alignment to allow the construction of an over bridge to enable the B3098 to pass under the route of the bypass.
Bridges- BACK TO TOP
The scheme has eleven significant structures; excluding small span wildlife tunnels and road drainage.
The bridges over Bratton Road, carrying Newtown and the track at Chalford have been designed with the appearance of short tunnels to disguise their form and blend in with the surrounding landscape.
These structures are 'green' bridges with hedges and, or shrubs planted over them to enhance their ecological value.
Further to the north east, and linked to it by a new length of track/bridleway, a combined footpath underpass and bat tunnel would be constructed on the line of Bridleway
Westbury 37 at Wellhead Springs. A continuous flight line would be achieved by planting hedges approaching the entrance to the underpass. A similar crossing will also be provided to the north near the derelict Bere's Mere Farm.
Bridges would be constructed to carry the road over two railway lines and three minor stream crossings (Bitham Brook).
Lighting- BACK TO TOP
Lighting would be confined to the four roundabouts, their immediate approaches and to the new cycle path between the proposed Glenmore and Hawkeridge Roundabouts.
All lanterns would be low threshold increment flat glass lanterns with high pressure sodium as a light source. Lighting columns would generally be 10 or 8 metre columns.
The roundabout at Madbrook Roundabout would not be lit with conventional column units. Instead an innovative low level lighting system including illuminating road studs will be used so the impact on a nearby bat flight path is minimised.
Lighting of the cycle track along the superseded section of Hawkeridge Road would use 6 metre high columns. An existing section of road between the scheme limit and The Ham, which is not lit currently would be lit using 6 metre columns.
Landscaping- BACK TO TOP
The landscape around Westbury has a recognisable structure and is generally well maintained farmland with attractive features, including Westbury White Horse, and some detracting features such as Westbury's cement works.
The key issue in the design of the proposed bypass is its siting in the landscape. As far as possible the road is positioned to follow contours and aligned to avoid significant areas of woodland and vegetation. The landscape proposals are designed to integrate the road with and reinstate the existing landscape by way of native species planting. This would include:
- Tree and shrub planting along the road to link with existing field boundaries and patterns of vegetation
- Hedgerows with occasional tree species
- Tree and shrub planting in fragmented field boundaries
- Blocks of woodland at junctions
- Mass tree and shrub planting to soften the appearance of embankments
- Individual trees at appropriate locations
- Breaking out and removal of redundant sections of road
- Grassland tolerant of wet and dry conditions within pond areas
- Chalk grassland on some cutting slopes
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