Further tests needed on new link road as major safety concerns revealed

The Southern Connector Road will provide a link between the 8,000-home New Eastern Villages (NEV) and Commonhead roundabout but has not opened to traffic after the company that built it, Buckingham Group, collapsed into administration in September 2023 before it was handed over to Swindon Borough Council.

To ensure high safety and quality standards, Councillor Chris Watts, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, authorised detailed surveys and inspections to identify the remaining works required to open the road and for the Council to resolve outstanding matters linked to the administration process.

A number of defects relating to the bridge, which was newly constructed by Buckingham Group, were previously identified. Faults with the road surfacing, embankments, verges and road safety requirements have also been uncovered. There were also aspects of the project that were never completed.

Since that time, further ground investigation tests over the last few months have identified major concerns, particularly with the bridge embankments including compaction issues and the presence of foreign materials including brick and plaster board that further undermines the integrity of the construction. The pace and extent of failing pavements has been raised by the project team as deeply concerning particularly as they are not in use.

Despite these challenges, the Council’s project team have been able to open the northern end of the road to allow developers to access their land and, over the next few weeks, there will be some further works taking place at Pack Hill roundabout to address remaining defects.

Councillor Watts said: “We knew when we started this process that this new road was not fit for purpose, but the more tests we have carried out, the worse it gets.

“We now have to carry out more investigations because we can’t risk spending more taxpayers’ money fixing some of these defects only to find we run into further problems in a couple of years’ time.

“Unfortunately, it is becoming more apparent after testing and surveys, that the bridge has some serious failings. What we need to understand, particularly with regards to the bridge, is whether it is worth carrying out remedial work, or if there are other options we can take forward, which do include replacing the bridge. We should know more by the end of the year.

“In the meantime, we have been able to get part of the road open to construction traffic so we are not holding up developers on this strategic housing site for Swindon. Vistry, who are building at nearby Lotmead, have also agreed to hold monthly meetings with local residents to address any concerns they have with construction traffic.”