SEVEN weeks of road resurfacing work will close different parts of Thamesdown Drive.

The work begins on Monday and will include day-time closures at the Redhouse Way and Torun Way junction, and the eastbound carriageway of the link between Redhouse Way and Eastbury Way.

To minimise disruption for shoppers, work will be carried out during the night at the Haydon Brook Bridge, the Oakhurst Way and Thursday Street junction, and the junction of the Orbital Shopping Park and Eastbury Way.

Access will be maintained for local residents and diversion routes and signage will be in place.

The works are dependent on the weather. Neighbours and motorists should check the advanced notification boards for up-to-date information.

Some drivers welcomed the work. Raminta Butkiene said: “About time. Thamesdown Drive is in a very bad condition and definitely needs refurbishing.”

Others were less keen. Susan Chance said : ”More roadworks, as if we haven’t got enough of them in Swindon.”

Rebecca Hale said: “Maybe they should finish the other road works before starting more.”

Andy Corbett said: “Not sure why all these roadworks weren’t done in the last 18 months when not many people were on the roads?”

The junctions will be resurfaced one at a time to help ease congestion and combining it with upgrading traffic signal upgrades that were due to be done later this year.

The council's contractor has used electronic variable messaging signs and other advanced notices at each junction in the lead up to the works to ensure that passerby take notice and are informed.

Diversion routes have been specified and agreed with the Streetworks Team.

At the same time around Swindon, the Moonrakers junction work continues, as does the improvement of Mead Way, changes to Oxford Road, and the maintenance phase of the White Hart roundabout upgrade which is now set to end in autumn rather than July.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “Thamesdown Drive has reached the stage where significant maintenance is required to improve the condition of the road.

“The surface of the road was reviewed last autumn as part of the design process and, since then, there has been significant deterioration over the winter.

“If the works are delayed any further then there is a risk the road will further deteriorate, as such it is essential this is completed ahead of the autumn and winter weather setting in.

“We have worked to find a balance of completing the work efficiently and as quickly as possible, while also aiming to reduce impact where possible.”

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