National Highways has set out plans for a £25 million upgrade scheme aimed at tackling congestion and enhancing journey reliability along a key section of the A36 in Salisbury.

The proposals focus on the Southampton Road corridor, a strategically important route that carries a combination of long-distance traffic and significant local movements. The scheme was presented at a Salisbury City Council meeting on 26 May as part of wider efforts to improve traffic flow through the city.

Targeting congestion hjotspots on the A36

The planned upgrades are intended to increase capacity at some of the busiest junctions along the route, helping to reduce delays and improve reliability for both strategic and local road users.

National Highways has identified junction performance along the corridor as a key constraint, particularly during peak travel periods when congestion regularly impacts journey times and network efficiency.

The scheme forms part of a broader approach to managing demand on heavily trafficked urban sections of the strategic road network, where full new road construction options are increasingly limited.

Junction upgrades at college roundabout and Bourne Way

Central to the proposals are significant changes at College Roundabout and Bourne Way Roundabout.

Planned works include:

• Widening of existing carriageways
• Additional traffic lanes at key approaches
• Introduction of signal-controlled junction layouts
• Reconfiguration of entry and exit movements
• Reinstatement of left-turn lanes

The changes are designed to improve throughput, reduce queuing and enhance overall junction efficiency during peak traffic conditions.

Engineering consultancy WSP is supporting National Highways in developing the detailed design proposals, including the reconfiguration of College Roundabout to accommodate increased capacity and signalised operation.

Land requirements and environmental considerations

Delivery of the scheme would require land acquisition around the junctions, including approximately 2,500 square metres of land from Churchill Gardens.

This would result in the loss of around 25 trees, alongside further land requirements from areas owned by both Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council.

National Highways has acknowledged the environmental implications of the proposals and has confirmed that replacement tree planting will be delivered as part of wider mitigation measures.

Ecological impact, particularly in relation to green space, mature trees and local watercourses, has been identified as a key risk area as the scheme progresses through development.

Programme and delivery challenges

The current programme aims for the improvements to be completed and operational by 2031.

While National Highways considers the £25 million budget appropriate for the scale of the scheme, questions remain over delivery timescales, cost pressures and the complexity of implementing major junction upgrades within an urban environment.

Stakeholder feedback has also highlighted concerns around construction disruption, the use of additional traffic signals, and the long-term impact on surrounding residential and environmental areas.

Balancing capacity improvements with local impacts

The A36 proposals reflect a wider challenge facing highway authorities: delivering meaningful capacity improvements on constrained urban corridors while balancing environmental and community considerations.

As traffic demand continues to grow, targeted junction optimisation and signalised upgrades are increasingly being used as alternatives to large-scale new road construction.

National Highways is expected to continue engaging with local stakeholders as the scheme develops, with further consultation planned ahead of any final decision on implementation.