A key cycle path connecting North Swindon with Westmead has reopened after 14 months.

National Cycle Network Route 45 had been closed since September 2023 due to a £16m pipework project carried out by Thames Water.

The new path opened on Wednesday and has been widened and resurfaced to remove potholes as part of the works, as arranged by the Swindon Borough Council.

The closure had been needed to allow Thames Water to replace around 3km of sewer works between Taw Hill and Barnfield.

The project had initially been expected to take one year, with Thames Water saying in August that flooding due to heavy rainfall would delay its completion until October.

The reopened route will shave off 1.7 miles for cyclists who had been using diverted routes to travel from the north of the town to Westmead (approximately 12 minutes cycling).

Path users have been asked to take care of minor works potentially to be completed in the coming days.

A spokesperson for Swindon Borough Council said: "National Cycle Network Route 45 has been reinstated so it is in a better condition for both cyclists and pedestrians.

"The Council also plans to carry out feasibility work to improve the route even further linking Westmead to Thamesdown Drive and Tadpole Garden Village."

Thames Water replaced the full length of the ageing Haydon End Rising Main, which now follows a new route. 

This was, it says,  to ensure the network is resilient for future generations. 

This followed reoccurring problems with burst pipes and sewage leaks in the area over the last two-to-three years, which the water firm now hopes will be a thing of the past. 

It was estimated to cost £16m to complete, although the confirmed final cost after completion is not known. 

Thames Water has been approached for comment now that the work has been completed. 

Talking about the project previously, Andrew Scott, head of waste treatment for the Thames Valley Region at Thames Water said: “We recognise the disruption recent bursts from this pipe have caused and the impact it has had on customers.

"That’s why we brought forward our plans to start this £16 million project now so we can ensure our network in the area is resilient to the pressures of climate change and population growth and we can provide a reliable service to our customers."

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