Wichelstowe southern access scheme
Wichelstowe Southern Access is a new road link to the south-west of Swindon. It crosses beneath the M4, east of junction 16.
About the scheme
The Wichelstowe Southern Access provides a fourth access route into the Wichelstowe development. It is a requirement of the planning permission for the wider development.
The scheme will support:
- 4,500 new homes
- the new district centre
- 12.5 hectares of employment land
- around 2,000 new jobs
The scheme also supports our vision, priorities and pledges for local people.
What the scheme includes
The scheme provides a new road beneath the M4. It forms part of the planned connection through Wichelstowe between:
- Hay Lane and Wharf Road
- Redposts Drive to the north
- Croft Road to the east
A new roundabout connects the road to Hay Lane and Wharf Road on the south side of the M4.
The main purpose of the road is to provide access to Wichelstowe. It is not a relief road and should not attract large amounts of through traffic.
The road is a two-way, single-carriageway road.
Walking and cycling
The scheme includes a route for walking and cycling. The route crosses beneath the M4 and allows people to avoid junction 16.
How we built the underpass
The video shows how we built the underpass while keeping traffic moving on the M4.
Watch how we built the Wichelstowe Southern Access underpass on YouTube.
Project progress
We have completed the underpass and the new roundabout south of the M4. Our work on the Wichelstowe Southern Access is now almost complete.
The developers of the Wichelstowe site are responsible for finishing Wichel Way. They will also connect the road to the wider Wichelstowe development.
Wichel Way will remain closed to traffic until this work is complete.
Funding and construction
The Department for Transport provided £22.9 million towards the scheme through the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
We contributed a further £5.8 million.
We appointed Alun Griffiths Ltd to complete the detailed design and construction of the scheme.