Businesses closed down, and motorists were inconvenienced for over a year, but now the end is nigh for the controversial Mead Way roadworks. 

The West Swindon road will be closed overnight between Westmead junction and Whitehill Way on September 15 from 8pm to 6am after which the road will essentially be 'finished'. 

This will mark the end of the initial £4m 20-week scheme which began before the pandemic in March 2020 and eventually saw new deadlines after new deadlines were set and missed.

The disruption was so great that local businesses like Andy Young's Swindon Electrical Supplies heavily lost customers plunging it into ruin after eight successful years, and the extensive delays were so negatively received that locals threw a 'birthday party' on the project's two-year anniversary. 

Swindon Borough Council's highways newsletter has more details on what the final spell of work on Mead Way will entail. 

It said: "The contractor for the scheme, Britannia Construction Ltd, has nearly finished the installation of the vehicle safety barriers over the Mead Way subway.

"The designs had to be revised when one of the utility companies took the opportunity to future-proof its network by installing extra services, and it was found that there was little room for the foundations needed for the initial safety barriers.

"We appreciate the length of time this has taken has been frustrating for local residents, businesses and motorists and we can only apologise. It was really important the new barrier complied with safety regulations and this resulted in a more intricate and complicated design, which has taken a number of months to bring forward.

"The installation of the new, permanent barrier began on July 25 and a temporary structure remained in place to allow for a lengthy concrete curing period.

"Now that tests have proved the concrete to be of the required strength, the temporary barriers will be removed."

Ward councillor Suresh Gattapur has also posted on the West Swindon community Facebook page that road markings and bus stops will be installed during this time. 

Jim Robbins, councillor for Mannington and Western and leader of the Labour party, has welcomed the news but is keen to ensure that a promised public meeting to discuss the years-long saga does take place. 

The latest known overspend for the road-widening scheme reported in June of this year was £1.2million.