Mead Way improvements to be shared with public
Plans to improve traffic flow along a busy West Swindon transport corridor will be shared with road users and residents at two drop-in events.
Published: Monday, 21st January 2019
Work to widen the northbound carriageway of Mead Way is expected to start in the autumn and members of the public are invited to give their views on the scheme.
Detailed designs for the improvements are still being finalised but, under the scheme, two northbound lanes would be created on Mead Way between The Meads roundabout on Great Western Way and Withymead roundabout.
Westmead roundabout would be removed and replaced with a signalised junction in an effort to reduce congestion in the local area.
By creating extra capacity northbound on Mead Way it will not only help reduce queuing traffic on the road itself, but will also allow more vehicles to enter and exit The Meads roundabout helping to alleviate congestion.
In fact modelling for the scheme showed an improvement in predicted journey times for drivers exiting Paddington Drive onto The Meads roundabout during the peak evening period.
The extra lane on Mead Way, which will stretch for half a kilometre, will provide capacity for around 100 additional cars, improving journey times for people travelling northbound. Traffic modelling has also shown that adding signals to the Westmead roundabout, would improve southbound journey times during the morning rush hour.
Duelling Mead Way in both directions was not included in the scheme due to the constraints of the highway boundary and the high cost of buying the necessary land.
People will be able to view the proposals for the scheme and speak to the Council’s Highways officers at two information drop-in sessions at the nearby Delta Tennis Centre in Welton Road, Westlea.
The first session will take place on Thursday (24 Jan) between 12noon and 4pm, while a further event will be held on Thursday, 31 January between 4pm and 8pm.
Councillor Maureen Penny, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and the Environment, said: “We have been looking at a number of options to improve traffic flow along Mead Way within the limited funding that we have available and the traffic modelling we have carried out shows that this scheme will benefit both motorists travelling towards north Swindon, and those that use Great Western Way.
“Lots of people use Mead Way and Great Western Way on their daily journeys so I would encourage people to come along to the information sessions to find out more and ask questions. This is a great opportunity for motorists and local residents to tell us what they think of the plans.”
Further information about the scheme can be found on the Council’s website: www.swindon.gov.uk/meadwayimprovements