Page 9 - link magazine

swindonhink.com . February 2009 9
Way looks set to become by-pass in forseable future
No short term Where on the picture is it?
1. Possible route of the
relief for Mead Way Thamesdown Drive to
It looks as if Mead Way is to be- Great Western Way link road
come the de-facto western by-pass
for Swindon
The volume of traffic travelling to 2. Nova Hreod School
and from the A419 and the M4junc- 3. B&Q at Barnfield
tion 16, and all points in between, 4. Rivermead Estate
has continuously increased since 5. Westmead Estate
Thamesdown Drive was completed
in 2002 and as new homes in North Could you add to the
Swindon were occupied.
Mouldon Hill people's
Park See page 45

Moredon

Ridgeway Farm
(possible development Moredon
site for 1,000 houses) Bridge
(planning application
for 200 houses)

Petrnoor

In the 1990s the North Swindon
Development Company agreed
to contribute £15 million to the
proposed construction of an exten-
sion of Thamesdown Drive from
Pembroke Park to Barnfield Road. Shaw Forest Cheney Manor
But this figure was never going to be Phase 1 & 2
enough and coun Peter Greenhaigh,
Swindon Council cabinet member
for strategic planning and transport,
I
said he's been told it could cost up-
wards of £100 million to build.
"The road is in our strategic plan,
but the borough council could not
undertake such a huge project
without significant government
investment."
Gwillam Lloyd, head of highway Thames Wätdr
network management at Swindon tretment works
Council, confirmed that the project
poses considerable engineering
challenges. "The road would have
to cross the River Ray twice and
also the Swindon Gloucester rail-
way line which is raised on an em-
bankment, as well skirt the former
landfill site at Shaw Forest.
"We are conducting engineering
and environmental surveys before
any submission to government for
financial support is considered. The
cost could be in the region of £100
to £140 million." Westlea
Mr Lloyd said Mead Way could
be widened but this is not a pre-
ferred option.
Aerial images by www.getmapping.com