Today’s world is all about access. We have 24/7 access to news, same-day delivery, and supermarkets selling thousands of random items on demand so that you never need to be caught without cajun seasoning or a bell pepper. We’re a hyper-connected planet these days, so it’s more important than ever that no one gets left behind as we continue expanding our lives.
Enter: the Wichelstowe southern access scheme. Just outside of Swindon and off the M4, the neighbourhood of Wichelstowe has been slightly cut off from the rest of us, until now. A brand new project, which is being backed by the Department for Transport (DfT) and Swindon Borough Council, will oversee the construction of a brand new underpass below the M4, which will allow those living in the small town to get onto the motorway quicker and easier. It’ll cost around £28.7 million, most of which is coming from the DfT.
The new road, which ‘is located to the southwest of Swindon and crosses the M4 motorway to the east of junction 16’, will also have pedestrian and cycling access. It’s all being done in support of a wider development of the area, which will see the construction of 4,500 new homes and the creation of 2,000 new jobs. Not too shabby for a little suburb of a mid-sized town.
The work is mostly done, but traffic won’t be allowed on the roads until it’s completely connected to Wichelstowe, and the council haven’t given a date for this yet. Hopefully it won’t be too long, and very soon the townspeople will be able to enter and leave in peace.
You can find out the most up to date information here.
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