The final phase of improvement works to Mannington Roundabout will start in less than a fortnight.

The junction is one of Swindon’s busiest and is heavily congested at peak times. The works, funded by the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP), are intended to improve traffic flow and alleviate congestion.

Work on the scheme began in February last year with the removal of the Wootton Bassett Road bus lane between Mannington Roundabout and the railway bridge.

Phase 3 was completed earlier this year when the road was widened on the northern and easterly arms of the roundabout.

The final phase of the project, which will start the week commencing 17 June, will be located at the Mannington Retail Park. A new slip road from the retail park onto Great Western Way (A3102) will be created to reduce the volume of traffic leaving the retail park at Wootton Bassett Road and entering Mannington Roundabout.

Within the retail park itself, Telford Way will be widened to allow for a two-way flow of traffic and new signs will be installed to improve the internal layout, making it more efficient and simpler for motorists to navigate.

The speed limit will be reduced to 40mph for traffic heading westbound from Mannington towards Blagrove and a new system of street lighting will also be installed in the area. The speed limit will be reduced to 50mph for eastbound traffic approaching Mannington from Blagrove.

The work is expected to last 12 weeks and access to the retail park will be maintained during that time.

Councillor Maureen Penny, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and the Environment, said: “Mannington Roundabout is a major cog in Swindon’s road network and it’s vital that these improvements are made to ensure it can cope with continually high volumes of traffic at peak times.

“I would like to thank all motorists in advance for their patience while the work is being carried out. The good news is that the junction and the retail park will be kept open throughout in order to keep disruption to a minimum, and we can look forward to the roundabout being much less congested when the job is compete.”

The project is part of a £3.2 million package of road improvements which will contribute towards the Council meeting one of its key priorities of improving the town’s infrastructure.