There’s no escaping the fact that road works and traffic congestion are hot topics in Swindon at the moment. The press, local radio and Swindon’s social media forums seem to be talking about little else. There’s certainly a great deal of work going on and without doubt it’s causing delays and frustrations for many people. However I think it’s important to look at the bigger picture.

One of the main projects being undertaken at the moment is at Bruce Street Bridges.

The entire road layout is being changed so that it becomes one big roundabout, instead of the series of smaller roundabouts on each side of the railway line. There’s been plenty of bar-room debate over whether it will actually be better for traffic management. Everyone who’s ever used that junction – which must be virtually every driver in Swindon – has their own opinion. However, what’s not in dispute is the importance of the other main facet of this project – the vital drainage work being undertaken. It’s designed to stop the flooding we’ve often seen under the bridges which has caused so much congestion and chaos in the past. Swindon received £2.9million of government funding for this project, which is a significant investment. Because of the junction’s strategic position on the Great Western Way, the work there should improve the flow of traffic across a great swathe of our town.

One of the frustrations is that so many different projects are going on at the same time and the cumulative effect that is having. Road works in Drakes Way, Northern Road and numerous sites being worked on by utility companies all seem to have come together.

I understand that part of the reason is that funding for some of the projects is time sensitive and would be lost if not used now. Also much of the work is urgently needed before winter sets in. I know that the council and all the companies involved are working to try and alleviate the problems as much as possible, and I welcome that.

I do think it’s worth reflecting that all this investment is evidence of the fact that Swindon is a successful town. It’s because more people want to live here and more jobs are being created that we need greater capacity on our transport systems. Last week’s job figures showed yet again that the economy is moving in the right direction and there are real grounds for optimism. The current spate of road works around Swindon is a physical manifestation of that success. As difficult as it is, we need to put up with the delays in the short term so that we can reap the benefits in the long term.