Safety schemes in the South West region

We're delivering targeted speed limit reductions on the A40 and A46. This is part of our ongoing commitment to reduce the number of people harmed on the region's roads.

Start date Spring 2025
End date TBC
Cost TBC

What we're doing

Safety is and always will be our number one priority. That's why our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads. 

Our aim is to improve road safety for all road users by introducing reduced speed limits, which we anticipate will reduce the frequency and severity of collisions.

Locations

To reduce the number of collisions at the following locations, we're proposing targeted speed limit reductions.

Our proposals are based on collision and risk assessment data.  

You'll also find information here about when we're working and how this will affect you.

A40 Huntley to Boxbush speed limit reduction

The A40 between Huntley and Boxbush currently has a number of different speed limits. We know this gives local residents and road users safety concerns.

A safety review using collision data revealed a high number of collisions involving speed on the 60mph section of road.

In 2006 we implemented a temporary 40mph speed limit at this location. After reducing the limit, collisions reduced by 78% (between 2014 and 2018).

Based on this data and local insight, we're now proposing a permanent 40mph speed limit along this route.

Next steps - statutory processes start from 30 December 2024

From 30 December 2024, we’re starting the statutory processes necessary to introduce the proposed speed limit reductions to the A40 between Huntley and Boxbush.

A statutory objection period lasting 21 days allows you to give us your comments on our proposals.

Documents

A40 Huntley to Boxbush Statement of Reasons

A40 Huntley to Boxbush Proposed Notice

A40 permanent speed reduction proposals plan

Works in January and early February 2025

We've put a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) in place so the temporary reduced speed limit can remain in place and work can begin.

We'll be working to align the speed limit on the A40 between Huntley and Boxbush from Monday 13 January to Monday 3 February 2025.

Closures and diversions

Weeknights Monday 13 January until Monday 3 February.

Overnight (8pm to 6am) two-way temporary traffic lights on the A40 between Huntley and Boxbush.

The road will be open as usual during the day and at weekends.

8pm Monday 13 to 6am Tuesday 14 January

One-night overnight closure of Barrel Lane and Hinder Lane.

We'll maintain access to properties directly within the works area. Please ask the site team to escort you safely to your home.

Our works may cause some noise. We'll do all we can to keep noise to a minimum and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

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. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

We've identified safety issues on the A46 between Bath and M4 junction 18.

Collision data between 2017 and 2021 identified 41 incidents causing 79 casualties. Two of these resulted in fatalities.

We've completed statutory processes to reduce speed limits along this stretch of road to:

  • 50mph just south of J18 on the M4 to Pennsylvania village
  • 30mph through Pennsylvania village
  • 40mph south of Pennsylvania to Upper Swainswick, where it returns to 50mph.

Work starts in February

We'll install signs displaying the new speed limits from 24 February to Tuesday 18 March

We'll use a combination of:

  • temporary traffic lights
  • overnight closures (8pm to 6am) on weeknights only

Closures

A46 north of Cold Ashton roundabout

Closed overnight: 

  • Thursday 6 March to Friday 7 March
  • Friday 7 March to Saturday 8 March 
A46 south of Cold Ashton roundabout

Closed overnight: 

  • Wednesday 12 March to Thursday 13 March
  • Thursday 13 March to Friday 14 March
  • Friday 14 March to Saturday 15 March
  • Monday 17 March to Tuesday 18 March 

Diversions

Two main diversion routes will be suitable for large vehicles: 

A46 closed north of Cold Ashton roundabout

Diversion by the B4465, the A4174 and the A420. 

A46 closed south of the Cold Ashton roundabout

Diversion by the A420, the A350 and the A4. 

You can travel these diversion routes in either direction

Some local roads which will have short diversions while we remove and install signs. These include:

  • Field Lane
  • Dunsdown Lane
  • Middledown Road
  • Sands Hill. 

Please plan ahead and allow plenty of time for your journeys. We apologise for any inconvenience and disruption caused by the works. 

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. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

Project information

Overview

We’re always exploring ways to make our roads safer through a better understanding of driver behaviour.  We do this using collision data, risk assessments and insights.

We're proposing several speed management changes to reduce collisions.

Safety is and will always be our number one priority.

Our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads.

Achieving this shared vision will benefit:

  • the country as a whole
  • families and individuals whose lives continue to be affected by collisions on our roads.

Documents

Traffic information

Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.

Contact us

0300 123 5000

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