AFTER being shut for more than three months, the Stratton Green Bridge was formally opened this morning allowing vehicles to once again use the major route.

Network Rail closed the bridge in November so work could be carried out as part of the Great Western electrification programme.

Drivers have been forced to take a diversion route while the work is being done but now the bridge is open, it is hoped travelling around Swindon will be easier.

It was initially thought the work would take 20 weeks but due to the efforts of the orange-jacketed army, which included working on Christmas Day, everything was completed within 16 weeks.

Andy Haynes, the project manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted the project has come in on time, paving the way for the electrification of the line and new trains arriving in 2017.

“We thank all the local residents and motorists for their patience while we’ve been doing the work. They’ve been very generous in allowing us to get on with the work, especially on Christmas Day.”

The project saw the old bridge, which was more than 100 years old, removed and replaced with a new one.

Network Rail had initially aimed to do the work last year but due to uncharted cabling had to postpone the work.

“We have got 179 of these structures to renew and lift across the whole of the route and each one has its own unique challenges,” said Andy.

“This particular one had a gas pipe right next to it as well as dozens of utility cables and fibre optic cables. They were the major issues except at Christmas when we had extraordinarily high winds.

“The team have worked really hard but more importantly we have done the job in 16 weeks. We haven’t panicked or rushed it and we have been safe.

“We did the work in a well-planned way and there were no accidents or incidents so the guys did a really good job.”

The bridge was officially opened by Councillor Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Dorcan), the cabinet member for transport, who praised the hard work of the team.

He said: “It’s been a great job by Network Rail’s orange army. They have delivered for us. They said the road would be closed for three-months and they have worked around the clock to make it happen.

“This bridge is about the future of the town and will mean London will be ten minutes quicker to reach than today.

“This is the first of three bridges being worked on in Swindon. We have one in Rodbourne in mid-April and another South Marston in the summer so hopefully this is a good indication of the efficiency of Network Rail.”

Traffic was allowed to start using the bridge from 9.30am once the road-bloacks had been cleared away. 

In April Swindon Borough Council will start work on increasing the capacity of the nearby Greenbridge Roundabout before work starts on building 8,000 homes in the Eastern Villages.