Welcome to the New Eastern Villages (NEV) newsletter. As a subscriber, this newsletter will drop into your inbox every month and will contain everything you need to know about the NEV and the accompanying roadworks. An option to unsubscribe is available at the foot of every newsletter.

What's recently happened?

Above: the old Merlin Way slip-road is now closed

Why was the old slip road closed?

One of the main improvements to the White Hart junction has been the creation of a dedicated northbound slip road, which provides a safer and quicker connection to the A419. 

The new slip road has been designed to meet National Highways’ current design standards as it feeds on to its main road network. The previous Merlin Way slip road, which was shorter in length, did not make it easy for vehicles to accelerate onto the dual carriageway, particularly HGVs.

Some residents have asked if we can keep the Merlin Way slip road open while lane restrictions are still in place on the White Hart junction. Unfortunately, we cannot keep it open on safety grounds as the signage is in place to direct traffic to the new slip road. It would also extend the length of time the contractor would be on site if the slip road was closed at the end of the scheme, adding to the overall cost.

Above: the White Hart roundabout

Completion date

The scheme is currently scheduled to finish next month, after the nearby Gablecross surfacing work has been completed. This is because the traffic lights on the roundabout can only be turned on after the Gablecross scheme has been completed and all lanes are open for use.

If you'd like to contact the team, please email whitehart.junction@osborne.co.uk or WHJ@swindon.gov.uk

What's recently happened?

Above: a resurfaced Piccadilly roundabout

Making the finishing touches to the roundabout

The contractor for the scheme, R&W Civil Engineering, has been installing pedestrian railings and laying tarmac in the central reservations and splitter islands (on the approaches to the roundabout to separate traffic).

The local media have recently reported on the fact the bus stop has been moved from its previous position on the roundabout. This is because an extra lane has been created around the roundabout to increase capacity and improve traffic flow. By placing the bus stop back in its original position on the roundabout it would block off one of these lanes every time a bus stopped to pick up passengers.

Our road safety auditor said this was an accident risk as motorists may try to pull out into the other lane to make their way around the stationary bus.

The new location for the bus stops were selected by our designers to comply with all the road safety standards.

Above: Covingham Drive, outside The Messenger pub

Covingham Drive works to be temporarily paused

The widening of Covingham Drive, which forms part of the overall scheme, has been paused as Thames Water has been unable to complete the removal of the asbestos water pipe (close to The Messenger pub). The works could not be completed within our timescales due to the increased cost associated with the delay.

Thames Water was unable to complete this work due to scheduling and resourcing issues. We will allow Thames Water to go on site and finish this work when they are able to do so.

As the New Eastern Villages development will be built over the next 15 years, the new junction's full traffic capacity will not be needed for five to 10 years. We do not believe that pausing this small section of works will be detrimental to overall traffic flow in the area.

Above: the B4006 towards Greenbridge. Permanent traffic lights are scheduled to be installed by Siemens early next month

Completion date

The scheme is currently scheduled to be finished next month.

If you'd like to contact the team, please email piccadilly@swindon.gov.uk

What's recently happened?

Above: the vehicle shown is used in the vacuum excavation process

Vacuum excavation on Nythe Road

The contractor for the scheme, R&W Civil Engineering, has been using a technique called vacuum excavating at Nythe Road, close to Oxford Road, which easily removes soil and underground material so the team can access the areas needed. This technique allows the team to excavate safely around live services, while reducing the risk of service outages.

The contractor has also continued with footpath construction and surfacing in the same area, including the installation of tactile paving.

Workers have also been installing City Fibre ducting to allow its cables to be protected.

Above: the Nythe Road and Oxford Road junction (28 April)

Completion date

The scheme is currently scheduled to be finished next month.

If you'd like to contact the team, please email nythe@swindon.gov.uk

What's recently happened?

Above: the A420 looking west toward White Hart roundabout

Progress on the road

The contractor has almost finished the scheme, with the last resurfacing works now completed. Then the contractor, Dyer and Butler, will do some final work next month, such as the traffic light detection loops, white lining and finishing off the pedestrian crossings.

Dyer and Butler has also continued work on the central roundabout and reservation.

SSE will also be on site to finish its utility connections.

Above: the A420 looking west

Completion date

The scheme is scheduled to be finished next month.

If you'd like to contact the team, please email comms.gablecross@dyerandbutler.co.uk

What's recently happened?

Above: working platform completed next to Liden Brook, ready for the deep foundations to start

Buckingham Group
The scheme's contractor, Buckingham Group, has been continually importing material needed to build the road. The contractor has also been meeting with Thames Water to assess existing pipes on the site. 

Water is also being cleared from trenches, while debris is also being removed from ditches along Wanborough Road.

Keystone Ecology

Keystone Ecology is continuing with ecological compliance checks.

Headland Archaeology 

The archaeological contractor, Headland Archaeology, has up to two archaeologists on site at any time to monitoring Buckingham’s construction activities while excavating the remaining archaeological area to the south of Wanborough Road.

Above: an embankment being built and the road cut to level, ready for the sub-base to be imported

Completion date

Completion is scheduled for December 2022.

If you'd like to contact the team, please email sscr@swindon.gov.uk

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust currently has a number of exciting site developments underway that will expand and improve the services it provides, ensuring they are appropriate for the growing and ageing population of Swindon and Wiltshire. The Trust has called these developments the ‘Way Forward Programme’.

The new Radiotherapy Centre, in partnership with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is set to open this summer, shortly followed by a new, larger and more modern Urgent Treatment Centre. The next development to get underway will be the expansion of the Emergency Department and other urgent care services.

The Trust is looking for members of the public and patients to be involved in the Way Forward Programme, through focus groups, forums, event days and to directly work on designs and ideas for the developments. If you would like to join the Way Forward Programme Public Network, please email gwh.wayforward@nhs.net.

You can view details of planning applications on our website.

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