PREPARATION work is well under way for a project to demolish one of the town’s main traffic hubs as part of the Union Square regeneration.

And although the current work may not be obvious to passersby, those behind it say everything is running to plan.

Initial work started at Whalebridge Roundabout, next to Jurys Inn in Fleming Way, on April 18 and have so far tacked a variety of tasks, including clearing vegetation.

A date has not yet been revealed for the start of the roadworks, which will see the inside lane on the roundabout shut, along with the inside lane on the three-dual carriageway approaches, but it is expected to be soon.

A spokeswoman for Forward Swindon, the company that is responsible for economic development, regeneration and inward investment on behalf of Swindon Council, said: “Since work began on the site a few weeks ago, the contractors have been working on site investigation and drainage works – types of work that aren’t necessarily immediately visible to passers-by but are of course essential parts of the process.

“As that process develops the work being undertaken will become more apparent, and we understand from the contractors that will include some coning off of parts of the three dual carriageways approaching Whalebridge roundabout.”

The exact schedule of lane closures is not yet known, so motorists do not know when the full force of the traffic disruption will be felt.

At the moment, contractors The Bardon Group have only given ‘milestone dates’ for some of the work. The overall work is expected to last 45 weeks.

The subways at the roundabout will disappear from September, the hole in the centre of the roundabout is due to be filled in with concrete by November and by March 8, 2012, the whole roundabout will be demolished and replaced with a road junction.

Developer, Muse Developments, will be submitting an outline planning application for the Union Square development in the coming weeks. The plans will include offices, restaurants, shops and housing, all set around new high-quality public squares.

The development will also incorporate a new bus exchange facility to replace the current bus station and bus stops on Fleming Way.

The removal of Whalebridge aims is to make it easier for people to walk safely between areas within the centre, for example across Princes Street and Fleming Way, between the shops and Union Square and up to the theatre, without facing barriers, such as the roundabout, fast traffic, and a lonely underpass.