A new layout to a junction on a Swindon road hit by an 18-month closure has frustrated drivers.

Roadworks costing around £5m famously took three years to complete on Mead Way, with one of the aims being to add an additional lane for half a kilometre from The Meads roundabout.

But one of those lanes has now been turned into a right-hand-turn only, with part of the extra lane blocked to oncoming cars.

Motorists say it means some of the disruption they faced between 2020 and 2023 counted for nothing.

One commented: “Last week I approached to find that the approach to Westmead Drive from Mead Roundabout has now turned into a turn right only and that the area beyond the right hand lane is a now a no go 'hatched area'. 

“As you can imagine, many are being caught out by this. 

“This change, supposedly made to make the junction of Mead Way/Westmead Drive safer following the implementation of a shockingly poor design, has now effectively removed 50% of the dualling of Mead Way.”

Others were similarly frustrated by what they saw as a step backwards.

One said: “What an absolute farce. What was the point of the improvement if they're just going to change it to this? Waste of time and money!”

While another added: “It does work now, but totally contradicts the plan to make it two lanes of flowing traffic. Hey ho. Here you go Swindon Borough Council.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: “Following resident comments and investigations from our Highways team since Mead Way reopened, we have recently made changes to the junction on the road.

“These changes were implemented last week and aim to make the junction easier for drivers turning into Westmead Industrial Estate and Stonehill Green.

“The changes have been modelled and show there will only be a very small effect on the journey times through the junction.”

The outside lane coming from the Meads Roundabout has been changed to a right-hand turn only lane, into the Westmead Industrial Estate.

A council spokesperson explained that hatching has been added after the junction, on the outside lane, as this area will no longer have any traffic coming into it from this lane. 

They said that the hatching will help direct drivers towards a separation for the next junction.

They added that for those wanting to turn into Stonehill Green, a right turn green traffic light has also been added to help identify when oncoming traffic has stopped. 

Drivers can still turn right whenever the road is clear and this arrow will only appear if there is still traffic waiting to turn.