A £17 million scheme to upgrade Junction 15 of the M4 is complete.

The project began in the summer of 2020 and has been designed to cut congestion, particularly for traffic heading to the motorway towards London travelling south on the A419.

The costs of the project were jointly met by National Highways with £5m from its Growth and Housing Fund, Swindon Borough Council with £4.8m, the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership with £3m and building firms Persimmon and Redrow with £4.35m as part of the agreement for building the Badbury Park development nearby. 

The council’s cabinet member for strategic infrastructure, transport and planning Gary Sumner said: “Improving Junction 15 of the M4 has always been a strategic priority for the council in order to relieve the frequent peak rush-hour bottlenecks and create a quick, easy route onto the motorway.

“I am incredibly pleased the work has now finished as it will bring enormous benefits to our local residents here in Swindon and motorists who use the A419 corridor.

“It is also great news for businesses and our local economy as it enhances our first-class transport links and makes us an even more attractive place for firms looking to relocate here.”

Swindon Advertiser:

Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership chief executive officer Paddy Bradley said: “These works will help safeguard the growth of local Swindon businesses and the wider region for years to come. 

"Reductions in journey times and less congestion will benefit local residents, businesses and visitors to this area.

“Inevitably, construction work at a vital junction causes temporary disruption and so I’d like to thank the motorists, drivers and passengers, for their patience whilst this vital improvement scheme was completed.”

The works included widening the southbound carriageway between the Commonhead roundabout and Junction 15, providing a dedicated left lane for London-bound traffic, widening the northbound exit to the A419 from the motorway, improving the A346/Marlborough Road entry slip and making the eastbound exit slip road, the southbound gyratory and the westbound exit slip road wider. The three-lane section on the west bound exit slip road was extended.

National Highways engineers found a solution that saved millions of pounds and cut 12 months off the construction time of the scheme.

The use of 29 pre-cast concrete subway units acted as both bridge supports and eventually a subway at Junction 15. The move avoided the need to demolish a bridge on the A419, approaching the junction from the north, with work progressing while the road remained open above.

Swindon Advertiser:

Mark Fox, South West head of scheme delivery for National Highways, said: “Our roads are vital and these improvements at junction 15 of the M4 will ultimately improve journeys and unlock local economic growth. 

“I’m so pleased that we are able to open this new junction in time for Christmas and can’t wait to see the benefits it will bring to people living and working in the area.

“The improvements to traffic should be immediate, but the benefits will continue for decades as the new junction encourages investment in the area.

“Despite the winter weather and Covid restrictions, we made great progress on the scheme and were able to open it on time and on budget, easing congestion for thousands of road users and the local community.”

National Highways is also refurbishing the Broome Manor Lane overbridge which crosses the M4 between junctions 15 and 16.

The scheme involves a full bridge deck refurbishment and work is expected to be completed this month.