THE worst of the disruption caused by work on the Bruce Street Bridges roundabout is expected to be over when the first phase is finished next month, commuters have been told.

The busy junction of four roundabouts at is being changed into a single, larger roundabout, which will ease traffic flow.

Meanwhile, starting next month, pipes will also be installed in nine roads around the Cheney Manor area as part of the scheme, to reduce the amount of flooding.

Since work started in the area on September 22, residents and commuters have had to adapt to even longer delays, but many remain confident that the temporary disruption will be worth it in the end.

Yesterday saw the first of four drop-in sessions scheduled to take place over the next few months held at All Saints’ Church Hall, in Southbrook Street, where residents and commuters could find out more about the progress of the works from Swindon Council’s project team and the contractors.

Andy and Linda Russell live in Bruce Street, and they visited the session to find out what measures would be put in place to ensure the safety of pedestrians along the road.

Andy said: “Our son, who goes to Nova Hreod, walks to school and we were concerned that his route to school might be cut off while the works take place.

“But we’ve had a look at the plans and it looks like he will be okay.

“It hasn’t affected us too badly so far but it is going to be very disruptive. But I do think the end result will be worth it.”

Simon Lymn, one of the project managers on the team co-ordinating the work at Swindon Council, said work along Rodbourne Road would probably be the most disruptive part of the project.

He said: “Rodbourne Road is the real pinch point of the highway network since it is such a vital artery route between the town centre and north Swindon, and this is why it has caused the disruption it has for commuters.

“That was why we wanted to complete that particular phase of the project first.

“We have also done our best to make sure that not too many road closures occur in the same area at the same time to minimise disruption as much as we can.”

The new roundabout set to replace Bruce Street Bridges will operate similarly to the Mannington Roundabout, with intermittent traffic lights that come into operation during peak periods in order to ensure steady traffic flow from all directions.

Together, the Bruce Street Bridges and Newcombe Drive Highway Improvements scheme and the Cheney Manor Flood Mitigation scheme have cost in the region of £8m footed by government grants from the Department of Transport, grants from the Environment Agency and money from Swindon Council.

More information, updates about the scheme and contact details for those managing the project can be found at www.swindon.gov.uk/gww.

Future drop-in sessions will take place on January 20 from 2pm to 8pm in the Even Swindon Community Centre, and on March 23 in All Saints Church Hall.