Disabled Driver Questionnaire
We want to produce a driver information programme for our disabled customers. To help us produce the best possible guidance, please take a few minutes to fill in our questionnaire.
Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
Traffic news on your desktop
Helpful ways to access the latest traffic information when you need it.
History of the Scheme
The A 419/A417 Trunk Road route runs between Junction 15 of the M4 near Swindon and Junction 11A of the M5 on the outskirts of Gloucester. The route is a strategic link in the Highways Agency's core network and is heavily utilised and congested.
The route has been the subject of a programme of road improvement in recent years and is now dual carriageway for much of its length. Major junctions in the rural areas are generally grade separated although there are some at grade roundabouts, notably at Commonhead Junction to the east of Swindon and at Turnpike to the north east of Swindon. The Commonhead roundabout is now being improved to a flyover by Alfred McAlpine and is due for completion in February 2006. You can find out more on our website at http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/3583.aspx
Public Consultations were held in July 2000 to seek information, and in July 2001 to obtain views on the package of options developed.
85% of the responses received were in favour of the package of options that included a proposed bypass at Blunsdon. The Preferred Route for the Blunsdon Bypass was announced in April 2002.
In August 2003, the Highways Agency appointed Alfred McAlpine as the Contractor with Mouchel Parkman as their Designer and Nicholas Pearson Associates as Environmental Consultants to take the scheme foward under an Early Contractor Involvement Contract. WSP continued their work as advisor to the Highways Agency.
The scheme has been developed and alternatives assessed. The alignment has been designed to reduce the amount of material excavated, address concerns of the local community and minimise the disruption to traffic during construction. The environmental design includes ground modelling, provision of noise barriers and planting.
Many Public Information Exhibitions and meetings have been held with local interest groups throughout the scheme development.
The draft Orders and environmental statement were published in March 2005 and a public inquiry was held in November 2005.
The Secretary of State published the decision letter in March 2006. You can view this on the Department for Transport website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/page/dft_roads_611310.pdf. Made Orders were published in July 2006 and work will start on the scheme in September 2006.
Construction of the scheme started on 18 September 2006 and the bypass is expected to be open to traffic by late 2008/early 2009.
