Road closure sparks traffic issues. Large trucks ignore detours, causing chaos on narrow streets like Kingsbury Street.
The A346 closure caused long traffic lines and drivers faced delays entering town. Monday was especially congested on this road. Large trucks ignored the detour signs and went down narrow roads like Kingsbury Street, creating “chaos and mayhem.”
A bus and a truck met on Kingsbury Street Monday shortly after 8 AM. The truck went uphill, and the bus went down. Police helped the truck reverse. Many large trucks waited on Kingsbury Street, stuck in gridlocked traffic, wanting to continue down the road.
Businesses felt the impact of the road closure, with one business reporting that retailers suffered losses. They said the road work will cause losses and questioned trucks passing on Kingsbury Street.
Residents were also affected by the road closure. Roads became bottlenecks around town, and people struggled to travel around town. Traffic delayed many people’s travel.
Wiltshire Council warned drivers to follow detours and not use unsuitable routes, especially for large trucks (HGV). Drivers ignored signs and detours, creating problems for local people. The council checks road signs now and will act if signs are wrong.
The road work happens during half-term, and they hope lower traffic volume will reduce problems. People must follow the detour to minimize traffic issues.
Wiltshire Council will upgrade St Martins crossings, starting February 24. Temporary traffic lights will stay during the work.