The A361 Caen Hill on the edge of Devizes has seen many crashes over the years and the road’s junctions with Marsh Lane and Devizes Road have been earmarked for changes.
As previously reported, data from crashmap.co.uk shows that, between 2015 and 2024, there were nearly 30 crashes on the busy road between the junctions with Foxhangers and Mayenne Place.
Last year, Wiltshire Council announced it was moving ahead with plans to install traffic lights at Marsh Lane and Devizes Road.
Over a year later, Cllr Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, has told this paper that the project is progressing well and construction could begin before the end of the financial year.
(Image: Trevor Porter)
He said: “Plans for safety improvements on the A361 at Caen Hill are continuing to progress.
“We remain in discussion with our contractor on the works phasing, and delivery is being programmed to begin during this financial year.
“The scheme is designed to improve safety on this busy route, including improvements to junctions, crossings, drainage, lighting and road surfacing.
“Further details on the programme will be shared once the works phasing has been confirmed.”
The planned traffic lights would be sensor controlled to allow traffic to flow freely on the A361 when there are no waiting vehicles at the junctions.
The project is part of a £22 million investment in improving road safety which was announced in 2024.
This funding was also used to install traffic lights at the A360 Black Dog crossroads, a few miles south of Devizes, which was another junction notorious for the number of crashes it witnessed.
Additional upgrades which have been suggested for the A361 Caen Hill include safety barriers along the centre of the dual carriageway, enhancement to electricity cabling and street lighting in the area to boost visibility, and drainage works to alleviate issues with standing water and flood risk on the road.
An improved pedestrian crossing and access to bus stops have also been proposed alongside the resurfacing of the route.
Last year, Wiltshire Council held a consultation on plans to reduce the national speed limit on the road to 50mph, while Devizes Town Council has pushed for action to reduce the speed of vehicles entering the town from Caen Hill.
