Diversion during roadworks to be 12 miles long

Drivers will be sent on a diversion nearly 12 miles long through Bath this summer due to roadworks that are set to last for four months.

The partial closure of Leigh Road West, near Bradford-on-avon, to allow Wessex Water to lay new sewers, is expected to last from June 1 to September 29 and will apply 24 hours a day.

A 1.7-mile stretch will be shut, with Wiltshire Council offering drivers a diversion route nearly seven times as long as the affected section of road.

The suggested alternative, covering 11.7 miles according to Google Maps, will start at the junction between Leigh Road West and Bath Road, sending motorists into Bathford to meet the A4 Box Road.

The route continues into Box before bearing south again on Devizes Road, skirting South Wraxall and Bradford Leigh, before finishing near the other end of the closure, at Frankleigh.

On the notice informing the public of the temporary closure, the council said the duration of the works would depend on “weather conditions”.

Access for residents and businesses on Leigh Road West will be allowed, but “delays are likely”, the notice said.

A post in the BOA Residents’ Traffic Group on Facebook raised concerns about traffic diverting to some other congested routes.

The post said: “What’s going to stop vehicles nipping into the north of Bradford and adding even further to the heavy traffic on Sladesbrook, Mt Pleasant, New Rd, Springfield and the Holt Road?”

People commented underneath the post to suggest that the council’s diversion would not be used by most drivers and that other, smaller roads would become congested instead.

You can see details of the closure on the Wiltshire Council website.