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Plans for £17.5m congestion-busting scheme near Swindon unveiled

Plans for £17.5m congestion-busting scheme near Swindon unveiled

Plans for £17.5m congestion-busting scheme near Swindon unveiled

A multi-million pound scheme that will tackle congestion and help unlock thousands of new homes in Swindon will get underway in August.

Highways England has teamed up with Swindon Borough Council, Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership and developers Persimmon and Redrow to deliver extra lanes at M4 Junction 15 and improve local road access from the motorway.

The £17.5 million, 12-month project starts on August 10 and should improve journey times and reliability for motorists by tackling congestion at both the busy M4 junction and on the A419, particularly at peak times.

Highways England’s Growth and Housing Fund has put £5 million into the junction upgrade, which is being jointly funded by Swindon Borough Council (£4.8m), SWLEP (£3m) and Persimmon and Redrow (£4.35m).

The upgrade follows the start of two major Swindon Borough Council schemes – the  Wichelstowe underpass project further south near M4 junction 16, and improvement work at the White Hart junction, a vital link between the A419 and A420.

The M4 junction 15 programme of work will involve:

  • Widening of the A419 southbound approach to M4 J15 Commonhead Roundabout from 2 to 3 lanes, with a dedicated left lane for London-bound traffic;
  • Widening of the A419 northbound exit from M4 J15 to 3 lanes up to the Highways England compound entrance, and back to 2 lanes north of the compound exit;
  • Widening of the A346 to the south of M4 Junction 15 from 1 to 2 lanes; and from 2 to 3 lanes on the immediate approach to the roundabout;
  • Widening of the M4 J15 eastbound exit slip road from 2 to 3 lanes;
  • Lengthening of the 3-lane M4 J15 westbound exit slip road;
  • Widening of the M4 J15 southern circulatory carriageway from 2 to 4 lanes;
  • Upgrading existing footpaths and installing a new signalised pedestrian crossing over the M4 Junction 15 westbound entry slip road.

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