WORK to extend the dual carriageway of the A350 in Chippenham at a cost of £2.7m has been completed.

Work started in April last year to extend the dual carriageway from Jacksom’s Lane 600 metres up to the Badger roundabout at Morrisons, removing a bottleneck, although motorists had to put up with delays while work was being carried out.

Wiltshire Council said in October the work was on track - and on budget - to be completed this month.

Now all lanes are open, although some machinery was on the site on Thursday evening.

Contractors Balfour Beatty said pipes would be installed through the various phases of works to get rid of more rainwater, making the road safer to drive on during heavy rainfall.

The final stages were improvements to the Malmesbury Road roundabout and the installation of a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing there.

The £2.7m scheme was funded mainly by the Government’s Local Pinch Point Fund.

Photographer Diane Vose, who was driving between jobs at 4.15pm, said: "Ooh it was lovely, I just drove straight through.

"I've been avoiding the A350 and taking the back roads instead because congestion was so hideous, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it flowing fast and free."

There are more major roadworks to come, with funding secured to further extend the dual carriageway up to Sainsbury’s, but no date set as yet.

Rob Perks, chief executive of the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce Board, said: “It will make Chippenham a more attractive place to visit because you won’t be stuck in jams. It will probably relieve congestion in town because people won’t cut through, they were coming down Sutton Benger way before.

“Instead of a journey taking half an hour it will take quarter of an hour, so people making deliveries will be able to fit in an extra one or say a heating engineer will be able to visit more customers.”