Swindon traffic: CityFibre works cause Marlborough Road delays

CityFibre is gradually getting closer to its goal of upgrading the broadband network on every street in the Swindon area.

The telecom company’s progress has now reached Marlborough Road, where part of the lane near the Lawn School roundabout which heads into Old Town is currently closed while weeks of works are being carried out.

Drivers have seen queues tailing back in either direction as far as Pipers Way roundabout and to the Shell petrol station as traffic lights manage the flow of vehicles.

One resident, who did not wish to give her name, claims the closure began without any notice being provided to people living in the area.

City Fibre roadworks on Marlborough Road will last until Wednesday. (Image: Newsquest)

She told the Adver: “It’s unbelievable. There is a massive queue all along the road, and we have to join this traffic if we want to go anywhere, which is a real pain.

“One of my neighbours was blocked in all day by the workmen, it’s wrong.

“We should have been told about this, it just began without warning.

"I’ve asked around and no-one on this part of the street knew the works were going to happen, and some have also had their drives blocked.”

Swindon Borough Council’s online map of roadworks indicates that the partial closure of Marlborough Road began at 6am on January 4 and is expected to last until 6pm on January 18.

Broadband users in parts of Stratton, Pinehurst and Moredon have already had their internet infrastructure upgraded to full fibre, though Swindon Borough Council has handed out an undisclosed amount of fines to the company for work which was not up to standard.

A pedestrian crossing is temporarily unaccessible while roadworks are being carried out. (Image: Newsquest)

Neil Madle is the area manager for Swindon at CityFibre.

He said: “CityFibre is investing £40m to deliver a full fibre network that will future-proof Swindon’s digital capabilities for decades to come.

“The works on Marlborough Road are part of this major undertaking and scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.

“We do everything in our power to give the community advance notice of work starting, which includes direct mail, press and speaking directly to individuals.

“We are grateful for the continued support we’ve received from the local community and ask that they continue to bear with us while we deliver these essential infrastructure works.”