Motorway
Bridge Works may affect Lyneham
Residents in Wootton Bassett can expect a weekend of
disruption next week as motorway traffic is diverted
through the town. Lyneham cannot escape either with Chippenham-bound
traffic cutting through the village as well as Dauntsey
to reach the next motorway junction.
The diversion will start at 7pm on May 16 as two new bridges
are lifted into place over the M4 near Swindon.
Wootton Bassett resident Toni Cox, of Beamans Lane, says
the increase in the volume of traffic through the town does
not just make life harder for drivers, but pedestrians too.
He said: “When there have been accidents on the motorway
in the past, there’s been a constant flow of traffic
through here and no one can get across the road. My
wife has stood at the side of the road for 20 minutes before
waiting for someone to stop for her. In truth our
little High Street just can’t
handle that kind of traffic.”
The first bridge will be lifted into place at South Leaze
on May 16 and 17 between Junction 15 and 16. The motorway
will reopen by 10am on Sunday, May 17.
But the disruption will not end there. On May 30 another
new bridge will be lifted into place at Spittleborough, just
to the west of Junction 16 between 7pm that Saturday and
10am on Sunday 31 May.
Work to prepare for the new bridge shut the motorway this
weekend (2nd and 3rd May) between 7pm on Saturday and 10am
Sunday morning. During this time the motorway was closed
in both directions between Junctions 16 and 17 and traffic
diverted towards Wootton Bassett and Lyneham.
Highways Agency project manager Dave Frampton said: “The
new bridges replace previous structures built in the early
1970s which were reaching the end of the working lives. The
previous bridge at South Leaze Bridge was demolished in September
last year and Spittleborough Bridge demolished in January.
The closures will take place overnight at weekends when traffic
flows are lowest.”
But that’s not good enough for Lyneham parish councillor
Duke Potter. Coun Potter said: “It’s very much
a case of put up and shut up isn’t it? We’re
having this time and time again and although neither Wootton
Bassett, Lyneham or Dauntsey are suitable for heavy traffic
flow, I really can’t see
a solution to the issue.”
The recommended diversion routes for traffic during the
closure are the same as used previously and for your information
a map has been added. During the closure, Lyneham residents,
through which the diversion route passes for Heavy Goods
Vehicles will experience some additional overnight traffic,
however timing of the closure has been made to ensure that
this is kept to the minimum possible.
Eastbound Traffic
Light Vehicle Only: Leave the M4 at J17 and take the
A429 north to Malmesbury, then east on the B4042 to Wootton
Bassett. From Wootton Bassett take the A3102 towards Swindon.
Rejoin the M4 at J16.
Heavy Vehicles: Leave the M4 at J17 and take the
A350 south to Chippenham to join the A4. Follow A4 eastwards
to Calne, Then the A3102 north to Swindon (via Lyneham and
Wootton Bassett). Rejoin the M4 at Junction 16.
Westbound Traffic
Light Vehicles Only: Leave
the M4 at J16 take the A3102 toward Wootton Bassett. At the
Coped Roundabout take the B4042 towards Malmesbury. At Malmesbury
take the A429 towards Chippenham M4. Rejoin the motorway
at Junction 17.
Heavy Vehicles: Leave the M4 at J16 take the A3102
towards Wootton Bassett, then Lyneham and Calne. At Calne
follow the A4 Signs to Chippenham, then A350 towards the
M4 Junction 17.
Temporary signage will be in place during the closure period
to direct traffic. |
