MEAD Way has finally reopened to traffic after extensive work carried out to increase the capacity of the road.

The multi-million pound scheme began just before the start of the coronavirus pandemic but has suffered one setback after another which caused major delays to the completion of the second phase of the project.

Utility companies spent months diverting cables, pipes and ducts out of the way of the work so that contractor Britannia Construction could lay the new road surface and get the route reopened.

Stonehill Green will be reopened as well and full access will be restored.

But, following prolonged work by utility companies to divert a host of cables, pipes and ducts over the last couple of months, the contractor for the scheme, Britannia Construction Ltd, has been able to lay the new road surface to enable the road to be reopened. Stonehill Green will also reopen and full access will be restored.

Coun Gary Sumner is Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for strategic infrastructure, transport and planning.

He said: “To say Mead Way has been a difficult project would be a huge understatement. 

"It was always going to be challenging to complete the project on time due to the onset of the pandemic, and we have had a whole host of other issues to contend with which have been well documented.

“I can’t apologise enough to everyone that has been affected. We wanted to get the road reopened as soon as we possibly could once the utility diversion work had been completed, so it is great news local businesses, residents and motorists will now finally be able to use Mead Way once again.”

Although traffic will be able to use the road once again, additional work still needs to be carried out on a new barrier over the subway.

To allow this work to continue, restrictions will be in place but two-way traffic will be maintained using the new lane.

The biggest change is a new northbound lane from the Meads roundabout on Great Western Way up to Withymead roundabout.

The roundabout at Westmead Drive and Stonehill Green junction has been converted into a signalised crossroad junction with a toucan crossing for pedestrians to cross Westmead Drive, which will enable traffic to flow better past Westmead in the morning and evening peak periods.

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