MOTORISTS can expect delays to Swindon’s busy Mannington roundabout from Monday.

The work will affect the Tewksbury Way road linked to the important roundabout which connects the Town Centre to junction 16. It will resurface the road and remove the traffic island separating the bus lane and re-mark lanes giving more space for queuing traffic. It is expected to take up to ten weeks.

It is part of package of works costing £3.2 million to ease congestion at the busy intersection and provide more reliable journey times for buses from Wichelstowe and Mannington, known as the Quality Bus Corridor by Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Work on the main Great Western Way from junction 16 will start in the summer, with a date yet to be confirmed.

Councillors agreed the plans after discussions in November. Speaking at the time Jim Robbins, Labour Councillor for Mannington and Western, said “I’m cautiously optimistic that this will help alleviate some of the traffic issues. It will certainly help bus journey times. Anything that we can do to support people to use public transport rather than cars can only help ease congestion in the area.”

Works to junction 16 are finally being completed this week as overnight works raced to finish before work could begin on the roundabout.