A36 Salisbury corridor
We're investing £23m to upgrade the A36 through Salisbury over the next six years.
How we'll work
To work safely, we’ll use a combination of lane and full closures during the day and overnight.
Where needed, we'll put signed diversions in place.
We'll give details of where we're working and the traffic management we're using on this page.
A36 Castle, St Marks and St Paul's roundabouts
Closures - Castle roundabout
19 - 29 January 2026
Full closures and lane closures overnight (8pm – 6am).
2 – 23 February 2026
Lane closures during the day.
14 - 27 July 2026
Full closures and lane closures overnight (8pm – 6am).
Closures - St Marks Roundabout
2 – 19 February 2026
Full closures and lane closures overnight (8pm – 6am).
2 – 23 March 2026
Lane closures during the day.
Closures - St Pauls Roundabout
1 – 22 June 2026
Full closures and lane closures overnight (8pm – 6am).
29 June – 20 July 2026
Lane closures during the day.
21 - 31 July 2026
Full closures and lane closures overnight (8pm – 6am).
Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.
Diversions
We'll put signed diversion routes in place. We advise you to expect delays and plan your journey in advance
We'll maintain access for emergency services.
Background
Around 33,500 vehicles a day travel between College and St Mark’s roundabouts in the heart of Salisbury.
We’re upgrading traffic signals at St Paul’s, Castle and St Mark’s roundabouts with modern digital systems. These new lights will react in real-time to the number of vehicles waiting. This will improve traffic flow, improve traffic sign reliability and reduce queuing, particularly during busy times of the day.
Our work also includes:
• improved road markings
• resurfacing at St Paul’s and Castle roundabouts and part of Wilton Road
A36 footbridges
The low height of the two existing A36 footbridges makes them vulnerable to strikes by tall vehicles. Their condition is also deteriorating.
We'll demolish them before they become a hazard to people.
Victoria Road footbridge
We'll replace Victoria Road footbridge with a new, upgraded structure providing safe access for pedestrians, wheelchair users, and cyclists.
Wyndham Road footbridge
We'll remove Wyndham Road footbridge. However, we can't build a new bridge meeting modern accessibility standards in the same space.
There is an alternative route by St Mark’s Roundabout subway, within 300 metres of the existing Wyndham Road bridge.
We recognise the potential impact this may have on the local community. We're reviewing our proposals to ensure the alternative route is safe for all users.
We’re working closely with Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council, and local communities as we develop our plans.
Timing
We've planned demolition and construction for 2028-29. Work will last around 9 months.
We'll avoid Salisbury 800 Royal Charter celebrations in 2027.
We'll need full weekend closures of the A36 for bridge demolition and installation. We'll also need 24/7 lane closures to work safely.
We'll keep the existing bridges open for as long as possible to minimise disruption.
Project information
Overview
The A36 is a key part of the strategic road network and the main route through Salisbury. It links the south coast with Bristol, Bath, and London as well as carrying local traffic.
Our improvements will make journeys safer, smoother and more reliable and support the city’s long-term economic growth. They'll include:
- new digital traffic lights at St Paul’s, St Mark’s, and Castle roundabouts
- improved road markings and renewed pavements
- upgraded pedestrian crossings with better technology
- replacing Victoria Road overbridge
- removing Wyndham Road overbridge, which no longer meets standards
- strengthening Maltings access bridge and repairing Avon River bridge
- resurfacing the A36
Utility companies
Utility companies (gas, water, electricity and suchlike) often work on roads we manage.
We've planned our schemes with SGN. Where possible, we'll co-ordinate our roadworks with them to minimise disruption to motorists.
Sometimes we can't do this. For example, utility companies don't have to give advance notice when responding to emergencies (like burst water mains or gas leaks).
This means we can't always warn people about potential disruption before utility companies start working.
Utility companies are wholly responsible for telling people (like residents, motorists and local communities) about the impact of their works.
Benefits
The A36 is vital to Salisbury’s economy. Our improvements will help keep the city moving and support growth for years to come.
Our work will:
- reduce congestion and improve traffic flow
- enhance safety for all road users
- reduce the risk of unplanned closures
- create better access for wheelchair users, walkers, and cyclists
Documents
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.Sign up for updates!
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