Highways Agency

The Need for the Project

The A419 trunk road is a strategic route linking the M4 and M5 motorways, and links Swindon to the trunk and motorway network. Most of the route is already improved, but at Blunsdon the A419 is one of the remaining bottlenecks on an otherwise high standard trunk road route. Prior to the start of construction, the A419 at Blunsdon was subject to a 50mph speed limit.

The existing route of the A419 at Blunsdon follows the line of the Roman Road (Ermin Street) through the edge of the village.

Traffic congestion occurs at Turnpike Roundabout and at the junction with Lady Lane with long delays, particularly at peak times, causing driver frustration and traffic accidents. The A419 in Blunsdon is difficult to cross for pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians and vehicles. The quality of the environment near the trunk road is poor due to high volumes of vehicles, high noise levels and associated uses of facilities at Turnpike.

This scheme will provide a dual carriageway bypass to the west of Blunsdon. At the southern end, Turnpike Roundabout will be replaced by two signal controlled junctions with a local road connecting them. One junction will be at Turnpike and the other close to Lady Lane. Lady Lane Junction will include a new bridge over the bypass. This will allow access to Blunsdon and Swindon and will allow traffic to flow freely on the A419. Turnpike Junction will maintain access to Cricklade Road and Thamesdown Drive. A dedicated pedestrian/cycle way will be provided on the local connecting road. Pedestrian/cycle phases will be incorporated in the signalised Lady Lane Junction.

A new bridleway bridge will be provided at the end of Widhill Lane to allow users to cross the bypass safely. Between the bottom of Blunsdon Hill and Lady Lane Junction, the bypass will include a third (climbing) lane. At the northern end of the bypass, an underbridge will be provided to maintain access to the landfill site and Upper Widhill Farm.

Most of the existing dual carriageway will be downgraded as part of the scheme. On Blunsdon Hill, it will be scaled down to a single carriageway. Between Lady Lane and Turnpike, it will be altered or removed. The section remaining between Widhill Lane and Lady Lane will become the responsibility of Swindon Borough Council and will provide them with an opportunity to implement further environmental improvements.

An aerial view of the planned bypass is available by using the link at the bottom of the Contact Information and Map page.

Construction Update

Work started on the scheme on 18 September 2006 and the bypass is expected to be open to traffic in winter 2008/09. Details of current progress with construction can be found in the Construction Progress page.

What Happens Next?

Traffic management was installed on the A419 at Blunsdon in July 2007 and will be in place until the completion of the works at the end of 2008. For the latest information on road works and speed restrictions, please visit the 'Traffic Management' page.