M4 bridge to be removed
Swindon Advertiser
www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk
28th December 2008
THE removal of an M4 footbridge
is set go ahead early in the New Year – diverting
thousands of vehicles through a small Wiltshire town. Spittleborough
bridge, near junction 16, will come down in a major overnight
operation after the Highways Agency announced work will start
late on Saturday, January 17. Because the overnight motorway
traffic will be diverted through the neighbouring roadways,
it is expected a large proportion of the HGV traffic will pass
through Lyneham village.
It follows the demolition of South Leaze bridge between
junctions 15 and 16 of the M4 in September. Both bridges
will then be replaced between January and June next year.
Cars will be diverted using the A429
and the B4042 via Malmesbury. HGV lorries will use the
A3102, the A4 and the A350.
Robin Miller, a spokesman for the Highways Agency, said: “Work
to form narrow lanes on the M4 between junctions 16 and
17 will take place from January 5. “There will be
a 50mph speed limit between these lanes during this time
in the lead up to the work later in the month. The
footbridge has got to come down. It’s
40 years old and showing signs of reaching the end of its
life.”
South Leaze bridge was removed three months ago and 33,000
vehicles were diverted through Swindon because of the subsequent
motorway closure. Westbound motorway traffic was diverted
from the Commonhead roundabout through Queens Drive and
via Great Western Way before joining up with junction 16.
Eastbound traffic followed the same diversion but in the
opposite direction.
Figures from the Highways Agency show the number of cars
travelling eastbound between 8pm and 10am is 13,446 on
an average day. During the same period an average of 20,055
cars travelled westbound.
In other M4 work the £1.4m Blackhorse footbridge,
near the Croft Road bridge, which links Swindon to Wroughton,
was demolished in June 2007 because it restricted the use
of the hard shoulder. The new bridge allowed the hard shoulder
to be fully used by all vehicles for emergencies and for
road maintenance.
Spittleborough bridge will come down
between 7pm and 10am from January 17.
Lyneham Village Forum: Your
thoughts please
B4069 Damage Read
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