Temporary Closure of Castle Street Bridge as Part of Major Road Improvement Scheme
A key route in Trowbridge has been temporarily closed to southbound traffic as part of a long-term project aimed at enhancing the area’s infrastructure. Starting on Monday, July 7, Castle Street Bridge – also known as Cradle Bridge – will be shut for 11 weeks. This closure is part of preliminary work to reinforce the bridge and make it safer for pedestrians before the main construction on Longfield Gyratory begins next month.
The Longfield Gyratory, a critical junction where roads such as County Way and Castle Street meet, is set to undergo extensive improvements. The full programme of works is expected to start on Monday, July 21 and will continue until April next year. Wiltshire Council has outlined that the project aims to increase capacity on the gyratory, improve journey times for drivers, and enhance safety for pedestrians. Additionally, the upgrades will support the development of the new Trowbridge leisure centre, which is currently under construction.
Key Improvements Underway
One of the main aspects of the project involves widening the carriageway at various points to allow for better lane allocation, improved clarity, and more efficient lane discipline. This will help larger vehicles manoeuvre without straddling lanes, ensuring continued capacity for traffic. The council stated that the upgrade will also improve the coordination between traffic signals and provide safer crossing points for pedestrians.
In addition to this, the existing traffic signal system will be completely modernised. The current setup, which includes several standalone signal crossings manually linked through phase timings, will be replaced with two advanced signal controllers. The traffic signals at Tesco on County Way will also be refurbished and integrated into the new system to improve connectivity across the area.
As part of the plans for the new leisure centre, a signal-controlled junction will be built to manage access in and out of the site. This junction will include pedestrian and cyclist crossings, and additional lanes will be created between the leisure centre access and the gyratory to increase capacity and reduce any potential impact on traffic flows.
Public Reaction to the Plans
Despite the council’s assurances, some residents have expressed concerns about the proposed changes. On the Trowbridge community hub social media page, several people voiced their dissatisfaction. Michael Bailey commented, “Trowbridge is like a concrete jungle, highways got it totally wrong. I’m surprised the government have given them all these thousands better spent on potholes, help the homeless or even put a bypass through Beanacre.”
Sean Honeywell raised another concern, stating, “So a major roundabout with lights on into a minor one with lights on. Am I the only one that sees this will just get gridlocked worse than it does now?” Meanwhile, Matt Eaton pointed out, “Meh, the real problem is the over-development of the town and lack of travel options other than the personal car. ‘Improved traffic flow’ is a sticking plaster.”
However, not all reactions were negative. A spokesperson for Tav’s Cars, a private hire company based in Trowbridge, approved of the plans to introduce a new traffic light, giving a thumbs up to the proposal.
Council’s Perspective
Cllr Martin Smith, cabinet member for Highways, explained the rationale behind the project. He said, “With a growing population and the continued shift towards electric vehicles, demand on our road network is expected to rise. By 2041, we anticipate a 7–8% increase in vehicle numbers compared to today. Enhancing the gyratory’s capacity now is a proactive step to accommodate this future growth.
“The existing traffic signals are also due for replacement, so we’re taking this opportunity to upgrade them as part of the wider scheme. This will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance safety for all road users, supporting the town’s long-term development and connectivity.”
