Fleming Way: What it's like on 12-minute detour around underpass

The subway near The Parade will be closed for good on Monday ahead of its demolition by Colas, Swindon Borough Council’s main contractor for the route's improvement scheme.

Shoppers going to and from Swindon’s bus and train stations will be sent on a detour for the foreseeable future until a new surface-level traffic light-controlled pedestrian crossing is completed.

An exact date for that has not yet been confirmed, though the local authority is continuing to work with Colas to see if it can be opened sooner than the entire redevelopment's expected completion date of autumn 2025.

When the Adver spoke to people in the area, some raised concerns about the diversion adding too much time to their journeys or being unsuitable for the elderly and disabled.

So, I tried it for myself, on a rather drizzly Tuesday morning.

The town centre bus station (Image: Newsquest)

Starting the stopwatch at the bus station, I set off across Newbridge Square towards Milford Street, as indicated by the council's map.

The diversion route to and from The Parade from Swindon's town centre bus station (Image: Swindon Borough Council)

If you don't have the map to hand, bright red PEDESTRIANS signs point you in the right direction.

Newbridge Square (Image: Newsquest)

After strolling through the square that is walled in on three sides by huge office blocks, you turn right to reach the traffic lights which will stop the flow of cars and buses coming around the bend and allow you to cross safely.

The traffic lights on Milford Street (Image: Newsquest)

Milford Street (Image: Newsquest)

Walking to the end of the road involves crossing Gloucester Street and some slightly uneven surfaces.

The pavement on Milford Street at the junction with Gloucester Street (Image: Newsquest)

Then, using another set of traffic lights, you must cross back over Milford Street to Fleming Way itself, where weeds poke up through the paving near the fenced-off section of workers redeveloping the road.

The traffic lights at the junction of Fleming Way and Milford Street (Image: Newsquest)

Signs and fencing on Fleming Way (Image: Newsquest)

The fencing funnels you across, with a dip between the pavement and the main road lessened by an extra lump of tarmac.

Fencing on Fleming Way (Image: Newsquest)

Another sign then sends you to the right, around the Alexander House Business Centre onto Fleet Street, as anything to the left is fenced off. 

Signage at the corner of Fleet Street and Fleming Way (Image: Newsquest)

I didn't realise it at the time but that direction is slightly different to the diversion map above, which suggests you can turn left here, wander along where the buses used to stop, and end up at The Parade.

I queried this with the council, who confirmed that the leftward section of the street will be open to pedestrians next week when the underpass is actually closed.

At this point, I was in the heart of the town centre and could have stopped the clock (seven minutes so far), but I wanted to reach the other end of the underpass before calling it a day, so I looped around through Bridge Street and The Parade, which took another five minutes.

By comparison, walking in a straight line through the underpass to the bus station took just two minutes.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “The [diversion] route was chosen to ensure it was as safe and fully accessible as possible alongside not only the Fleming Way work but also the work by First Investments at the TriCentre.

“We are working with accessibility groups to ensure the diversion is as easy to use as possible.

“Later this week, representatives from Swindon Blind Association will be trialling the route and providing feedback.”

When Fleming Way's redevelopment is finished, the road will be at the same level as The Parade, with a large pedestrian crossing.

The main road will become an inclusive bus interchange accommodating all bus services in the town centre along with a hub for inter-urban bus and coach services.

There will also be new cycle routes and a taxi lane.