Southern Connector Road
A new road currently known as the Southern Connector Road (SCR) has been constructed which provides a link between the New Eastern Villages (NEV) and Commonhead roundabout, near the Great Western Hospital.
The two-way single carriageway is 1.5 miles long and has been designed following traffic modelling, which indicates a road of this size will be sufficient to cater for demand generated by the full NEV development.
A dual carriageway was not viable due to the physical constraints of archaeology and utilities in the area.
This scheme was awarded £19m from the Housing Infrastructure Fund in November 2019 and £11.6m from the Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Department for Transport (DfT) in May 2021. This scheme was totally funded and will not require any additional borrowing for the council.
Update - October 2023
- In September of this year, the Principal Contractor that had nearly finished building the SCR, Buckingham Group, ceased trading and went into a formal administration process
- We are working hard to ensure completion of the scheme, and that the remaining works will be completed to the highest standards. This includes remedial works and adjustments required as a result of safety audits and inspections, and other defects picked up through inspections. Normally it would be job of the Principal Contractor to sort all these out in a timely way in line with contract.
- As a result of this unforeseen and complex circumstance, we are currently in discussions with the appointed Administrator to ensure all required legal compliance and technical assurances are achieved. We remain committed to the opening of the SCR as quickly as possible and we are working hard to resolve all of the issues.
- It may be perceived that all work has been halted. This is not the case. Diligent work to protect the archaeology, ecology and natural landscape continues as planned. Work is also being undertaken to ensure the necessary national technical requirements are reviewed as part of legal compliance regulations. We are also undertaking adjustments to the area to the southern end of the road at the junction with Pack Hill, including further signing and additional works to the embankments.
- It is important to note that Pack Hill, Wanborough Road, and access to The Marsh have all been reinstated and the public can use these route freely
- In going forward, we will provide regular updates highlighting progress of the SCR via a number of media and communication channels
You can view a detailed map of what the junction will look like in the document below: