A419 Commonhead and Blunsdon Improvement
You are here: Home - Futures - A419 Commonhead and Blunsdon Improvement
Scheme Outline
Two separate schemes that are being processed together, as they will result in full grade separation of the A417/A419 route between the M4 and the A417 Brockworth and Cowley Improvement scheme.
The Commonhead scheme involves construction of a new dual two-lane flyover at the Commonhead roundabout southeast of Swindon. The roundabout is already laid out for future grade separation so this work is relatively straightforward.
The Blunsdon scheme will provide a new dual two-lane bypass of the village of Blunsdon, which is currently bisected by a dual carriageway. For traffic on the A419 this results in delays due to the right turns, private accesses and one signalised junction.
Project Statistics
- Cost
- Unknown
- Finance
- Highways Agency
- Estimated duration of works
- 2005-2008
- Length of new road
- 3 miles
Progress
- June 2005
- The Commonhead Junction project is now fully confirmed and work is expected to begin in September 2005. The Blunsdon Bypass is still subject to a public inquiry and work may not start there until 2007.
- October 2005
- Public inquiry starts. Work has commenced at Commonhead Roundabout, though it appears to be just ground preparation work.
- January 2006
- A site depot has been commissioned and new crossover points installed on the A419 for future contraflow works. Most of the vegetation has been cleared from the site of the flyover. Preparatory work is underway for the bridge piers.
- July 2006
- At Commonhead, the flyover embankments are now complete and retaining walls are in place. It has been confirmed that the traffic lights on the roundabout will be removed when the works are complete.
- September 2006
- The bridges are lifted into place over the first weekend in September.
- November 2006
- Both new bridges at Commonhead are now in place and work here is expected to finish before the end of the year.
- At Blunsdon work has started on a new roadbed at the bottom of Blunsdon Hill. For the next year there will be no impact on traffic, but as the new road is tied in to the existing A419, disruption is expected during the second year of work.
- January 2007
- A419 through traffic is now using the new Commonhead flyovers, though there is still work to be done at the junction and it is not officially open. Traffic signals at the roundabout have been covered up in preparation for their removal.
- May 2007
- The flyover's temporary 40mph speed limit has now been removed and the new road is open to traffic. The roundabout below has seen the removal of traffic lights. Works are now taking place for the Blunsdon Bypass, including early earthworks and some lane closures on the existing road are taking place.
- March 2008
- The bypass is now well under way, with the road laid out on the ground and the bridleway overbridge halfway along nearing completion.
- May 2008
- The Lady Lane bridge opens to traffic, allowing the traffic lights there to finally be switched off and dismantled. Work is now due to finish in winter 2008.
More Information
If you know more
If you have more details on this scheme - a correction to the information shown here or an update on the progress of works - please click here and share your knowledge.
With thanks to John Morgan, Roger Cantwell, Chris Strange, Guy Hawley, Gerry McKenna and Andy Hellawell for information on this page.
