Swindonians should be prepared for significant roadworks across the town as the Swindon Borough Council ramps up its efforts to improve the condition of high-traffic roads.
Over the next two months, eighteen key locations will undergo essential resurfacing, with work expected to be completed by the end of March.
Among the major roads affected are the westbound section of Thamesdown Drive, which runs from Cricklade Road to the Orbital Shopping Centre, and the Blagrove Roundabout along Great Western Way – routes heavily used by thousands of drivers every day. The resurfacing work is part of the Council’s ongoing strategy to address the deterioration of road surfaces and improve the driving experience for all.
Given the scale of the operation, there will be some disruption to traffic. The Highways team will be implementing either day-time closures (7:30 am to 6 pm) or overnight closures (7 pm to 6 am), depending on the location and nature of the work.
The roads being resurfaced during the project include:
- New Road, Chiseldon: Ongoing traffic management until 17 January
- Pinehurst Road: Day closures until 17 January
- New Road, Chiseldon: Day closures from 20 to 25 January
- Newport Street: Day closures from 27 to 29 January
- Croft Road: Day closures from 30 January to 4 February
- Durnham Street: Day closure on 7 February
- Cricklade Road (between Kembrey Street and Menham Close): Day closure on 10 February
- St Philips Road: Day closure on 11 February
- Shrivenham Road: Day closure on 12 February
- The Street, Castle Eaton Bridge: Day closure on 13 February
- A420 at Acorn Bridge: Night closure on 13 February
- Blagrove Roundabout: Night closures from 14 to 18 February
- Great Western Way: Night closures from 19 to 21 February
- Thamesdown Drive (westbound between Cricklade Road and Orbital Shopping Centre): Night closures from 21 to 28 February
- Cricklade Road (southbound between Thamesdown Drive and Arkwright Road): Night closures from 28 February to 4 March
- Great Western Hospital access road: Night closures from 4 to 12 March
- Queens Drive Roundabout: Night closures from 12 to 20 March
- Drakes Way: Night closures from 20 to 27 March
Although some disruptions are inevitable, the Council assures that access will be maintained for local businesses and residents. Diversions will be in place to help alleviate any delays for motorists. While the work is scheduled to conclude by 27 March, the timeline could be affected by weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.
With limited resources, Swindon Borough Council has allocated just over £2 million for proactive road resurfacing for the 2024/25 period. In addition, £2 million has been set aside for routine highways maintenance, including reactive pothole repairs, as well as other road and pavement maintenance work. The Council has also secured an additional £1.5 million from the government to support the planned road repairs for the upcoming financial year.
Councillor Chris Watts, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, expressed his commitment to the project: “In order to build a better Swindon and help keep drivers moving, we need to make sure that our roads are in the best condition they can be with our limited resources. I know these works may be an inconvenience to some motorists, but it must happen to ensure our roads can be used for many years to come. I’d like to thank everyone in advance for their patience and support while this work is carried out.”
As always, the Council urges residents and drivers to keep up to date with the latest information on the official website.
