DRIVERS are facing a week of lengthy diversions when two busy junctions are closed for resurfacing works.

Wootton Bassett Road and Kingsdown Crossroads have been on Swindon Borough Council’s Highways repairs list for the past two years, but work to resurface both junctions was put on hold to allow other significant works to take place across the borough including the remodelling of Bruce Street Bridges and SSE’s cabling upgrade in the Kingsdown area.

Now the work has been scheduled to take place during the school holidays to minimise the impact on motorists - although lengthy diversions are in place for both closures.

Wootton Bassett Road will be resurfaced from the bowling green to Kingshill roundabout and include parts of Westcott Place and Kingshill. Contractors will start the repairs on Monday, October 24, and work is expected to finish that Friday.

The road will be closed between 8am and 6pm each day and the work is scheduled to take place before the forthcoming scheme to transform Junction 16 of the M4 gets fully underway.

Kingshill will be closed at Bath Road, and Westcott Place will be closed at the roundabout by Park Lane and Faringdon Road.

Access to residents will be maintained and will be managed by the contractor on site.

Two diversion routes have been set up for traffic that would ordinarily use Wootton Bassett Road.

Motorists heading in the direction of Old Town should go via Redposts Drive, Blackhorse Way, Croft Road, Devizes Road and Bath Road - a diversion of some 2.8 miles to go the half mile stretch of road.

Drivers who would normally head into Swindon town centre via Westcott Place should use a diversion route of Great Western way, Bruce Street Bridges, Kemble Drive and Park Lane - making a diversion route of 3.4 miles to go less than a mile between Bassett Road and Park Lane.

Kingsdown Crossroads - which encompasses the junction with Hyde Road, Kingsdown Road and Beechcroft Road - will be closed from the same date, but is only expected to last for three days.

The junction will be closed for the duration of the works as there is insufficient space to safely undertake the works and maintain any form of through traffic. The resurfacing, as in the case of Wootton Bassett Road, cannot be carried out overnight due to nearby residential properties.

Anyone whose route encompasses Kingsdown Crossroads should use a circular route utilising the A419, Swindon Road, Gypsy Lane, Cirencester Way and Cricklade Road.

Drivers are being advised to avoid both junctions during this period and to allow more time for their journeys.

Jason Humm, Swindon Borough Council’s head of highways and transport, said: “The various teams within Highways always aim to plan works effectively so we minimise disruption as much as we possibly can, which is why these works have been programmed in during the quieter school holiday period.

“We have deliberately kept these two schemes on hold because of the major projects that have been taking place in the town over the last two years, but the carriageways have deteriorated to such an extent that we cannot wait any longer.

“The work to transform Junction 16 of the M4 will also get into full swing next month so it is important the Wootton Bassett Road repairs are done now.

“We appreciate the resurfacing projects will inconvenience people for a short period while the road surface is improved, but we just ask that motorists bear with us for a few days while these repairs are carried out.”

A taxi driver based at Swindon Bus Station who did not wish to be identified said that customers travelling to West Swindon from town or those heading up through Stratton St Margaret should expect longer journeys, but added: “We will always do our best to get the customer where they need to go along the shortest route.”

Roger Waite, manager of The Runner in Wootton Bassett Road, said the team was concerned that the closure might have a knock-on effect on their daytime trade, but stressed that they would remain open throughout the closure.

“We had the gas board out doing roadworks recently and they were very good at sending out letters to tell us what was going on, but the council has told us nothing about the resurfacing works,” he said.