Milestone in work on bypass

7:33am Wednesday 7th May 2008

FROM early today motorists will get their first taste of the new Blunsdon bypass - when a section opens for public use.

The opening of the new bridge, which carries Lady Lane across the new road, represents a major milestone, says the Highways Agency.

Khalid Pervez, project manager, said: "The completion of this new bridge and its opening to traffic is a major step in achieving the Highways Agency's aim of reducing journey times and improving safety along this stretch of the A419.

"It represents a major achievement for all those involved with the scheme."

As of today traffic is being diverted from its usual route on Lady Lane onto the new bridge, which will span the bypass.

The lights that control the junction of Lady Lane and the A419 will be replaced with temporary lights at the junction between the A419 and the Highworth Road.

The Highways Agency, which is part of the Department of Transport, has been working on the £65.5m project since September 2006.

Work is due to be completed by winter 2008.

Mr Pervez added: "The forthcoming months will see completion of further parts of the new bypass, with road users and residents starting to see significant changes as a result of our investment."

The Blunsdon bypass is a two-mile dual carriageway designed to link local roads with the A419 safely, by replacing the Turnpike roundabout.

However, not everyone is so thrilled at the prospect of the early opening of this part of the road.

One resident, who lives close to the road, is expecting a front-row seat.

The bridge runs higher than the resident's house and is about 60 feet away.

The Highways Agency said it will put in a wooden acoustic fence to block out the noise, but this is little comfort.

"My main worry is how close this road is coming to my property," said the resident.

"When I look out of my bedroom window it's the first thing that hits me. I don't like the thought of all the traffic - and yet when I open my curtains in the morning that's what I see."

About four years ago she was about to sell her property when the buyers found out about the possibility of the bypass and the deal fell through.

When the dual carriageway opens she has been told to anticipate noise and pollution from a spot roughly 40ft from the bypass.

"I'm the closest one to it now," she said.

"It's not just the road users who are affected - it's the residents.

"There might be more pollution, but as far as I'm concerned I couldn't do anything about it anyway. I can't sell it and all this has taken a lot of value off the property."

Although the construction work will divert traffic away from the Lady Lane area, this will make this resident's situation worse.

"As far as I'm concerned it's going to be dreadful."

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