Council exploring ways of unblocking Rodbourne congestion hot spot

Traffic engineers are looking at ways of reducing congestion in Rodbourne, following feedback from local residents.

Published: Friday, 4th October 2019

The Council is looking to introduce a range of short-term and long-term measures to ease congestion in the local area following a number of meetings with local residents and councillors

A feasibility study is currently being commissioned which will look at the impact of introducing a new dedicated left turning from Rodbourne Road on to Great Western Way at the Bruce Street Bridges junction.

It is hoped the proposed new lane will make it easier for traffic travelling from Rodbourne to join up with Great Western Way, reducing queues along Rodbourne Road.

The study will be completed over the coming months and will assess the impact on traffic and the effect on local traders and residents.

An Urban Traffic Management Control system is also being developed following funding from the Swindon and Local Enterprise Partnership and is due to be delivered in 2021.

This will use specialist technology including real time passenger information and further highway signage to manage traffic flows on the town’s road network.

This weekend, to coincide with the Great Western Brick Show at STEAM, extra parking enforcement officers will be patrolling Kemble Drive and the area surrounding Swindon Designer Outlet to prevent motorists from parking in residents’ only parking bays.

Highways officers from the Council will also be in attendance and Swindon Designer Outlet will use traffic marshals in an effort to keep traffic flowing into and out of its car parks. Motorists are advised to use alternative Town Centre car parks, such as Bristol Street, if the Outlet’s car parks are full.

Councillor David Renard, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “The congestion issues at peak times in Rodbourne are not easy to fix and, unfortunately, there is no magic wand I can wave to ease residents’ concerns.

“However, what I can guarantee local people is that we will do everything that we can to try to solve this complicated situation, which has ultimately been caused by the overwhelming success of the Designer Outlet Centre.

“We have looked at the Bruce Street Bridges junction to see what modifications can be made and the dedicated lane to link Rodbourne Road with Great Western Way is certainly one option we are keen to explore, which is why this week my Cabinet colleague, Cllr Penny, asked officers to commission the feasibility study.

“The Urban Traffic Management Control system we are working on will also help us control traffic flows along Great Western Way and enable us to keep traffic flowing more freely out of Rodbourne, but again this solution will take time.

“The event this weekend will be monitored and we will continue to do whatever we can in the short-term, working with the Designer Outlet, to help local residents and the extra enforcement is something we will continue to do in the run-up to the busy Christmas period. This builds on the work we have already done to create the extra lane along Kemble Drive for motorists heading to STEAM and the Designer Outlet.”

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