National Highways will replace the Wyndham Road and Victoria Road footbridges over the A36 in Salisbury. The Wyndham Road bridge, in place for 58 years, was initially marked for removal but will now be upgraded following community feedback.
The A36 carries significant traffic through Salisbury city centre and both footbridges provide vital pedestrian crossings. National Highways had planned to remove the Wyndham Road bridge within a £23 million package announced earlier this year. After further monitoring and discussions with local councillors and community groups, the plan changed to replacing both bridges instead.
Modern bridges with improved accessibility
Chris Hilldrup, Route Manager at National Highways, said: “We understand the importance of the footbridge as an A36 crossing point. After listening to the community’s feedback, we’ve reviewed options and will upgrade both structures.”
The replacements will feature modern designs aimed at improving accessibility for all users. Detailed design work is now under way to identify the best solutions. The new bridges are expected to be delivered in 2028 or 2029.
Broader A36 improvements underway
The footbridge replacements form part of a wider A36 Corridor project to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and enhance safety in Salisbury. This includes resurfacing work and upgrading the Southampton Road pedestrian crossing.
New adaptive traffic signals have been installed at the Castle, St Mark’s and St Paul’s roundabouts. These signals, replacing 32-year-old fixed systems, are due to become fully adaptive following the installation of traffic detectors next month. They will start operating under fixed timings on 22 October.
Next phase targets capacity and active travel
National Highways plans a further £25 million investment along the A36 Southampton Road. The next phase aims to improve traffic flows and journey reliability by increasing lane capacity at the College and Bourne Way roundabouts. It also includes underpass and pathway enhancements and additional facilities for active travel, such as walking and cycling.
Two public events will be held in Salisbury Market Square on 17 and 18 November, from 10am to 3pm. They will present the initial plans and invite feedback. For those unable to attend, information and an online questionnaire will be available on the National Highways website.
Keeping communities informed
National Highways has committed to keeping local residents and stakeholders updated throughout the programme. Further details are available on the dedicated A36 Corridor web page maintained by the company.
