Swindon road works: Latest update on scheme at Coate roundabout

Swindon Borough Council have moved forward with plans to demolish the Queen’s Drive and Marlborough Road subway links at the Coate Water roundabout, despite concerns being raised by residents.

Works to “improve Coate Roundabout and the surrounding area” began in mid-April, when the subway on Queen’s Drive was shut, amid plans to replace the underground route with a surface-level toucan crossing.

The council have now provided an update on the progress of the project, which is expected to cause delays due to roadworks until the end of the year.

A temporary crossing has been installed for pedestrians, following the closure of the Queen’s Drive subway, while contractors Wills Bros Civil Engineering have begun stripping the topsoil in the surrounding area to make way for new footway and cycleway links.

The Queen's Drive subway before being filled in (Image: Swindon Borough Council)

The subway itself has been closed to the public.

Wills Bros have also started preparing the site for the installation of earthworks so that the entrance to the south of the Queen’s Drive subway can be filled in.

This is set to allow the creation of a new grass verge area.

The council say excavation has been completed and the foundation stone has been laid, ready for surfacing, for a new footway and cycleway which will join onto the proposed toucan crossing.

It is claimed that this will provide a missing cycle link into Coate Water Park.

A spokesperson added: “Once constructed, the new footway and cycleway links will provide the missing cycle link between the north of Queens Drive (Shaftesbury Avenue area) and Coate Water park.

“The old subway on Queens Drive didn't provide a formal cycleway crossing as it was built only for pedestrians, but the new toucan crossing will provide a crossing point for both pedestrians and cyclists.”

Coate Roundabout (Image: Newsquest)

Moving forwards, roadworks and lane closures will remain in place as work to realign the kerb on Queen’s Drive is carried out.

Contractors will then re-waterproof the carriageway on the Marlborough Road side of the junction, heading towards Commonhead Roundabout.

The scheme has been subject to opposition from many residents in the past.

The public notices for the planned underpass closures received 125 responses, of which 120 were against the proposals with only five in support. 

165 concerns were raised by locals during the public consultation for the scheme in 2021.

Despite this the council green-lit the plans in April 2022, stating the subways had to be closed because they were “unsafe”.