ONE of the approaches onto the Moonrakers’ roundabouts will be shut to drivers for five weeks as part of £2.8m roadworks.

And other closures will affect Cricklade Road – one of the town's major north-south routes – and roads around the junction for up to another year.

To allow for work on the junction – where the double mini roundabout is to be replaced by a light-controlled junction – closures will begin on Wednesday, July 22.

Cricklade Road will be shut in both directions between Penhill Drive and Liddington Street.

Whitworth Road will be closed between Crossways Avenue and the Moonakers’ junction on Cricklade Road, while Beechcroft Road will be closed between the junction and Dores Road.

Swindon Borough Council said it will give notice of when the roads are actually closed but hopes this will be overnight between 8pm and 6am. The exception is the Whitworth Road entrance onto the Moonrakers junction, which will be closed at all times between Monday, July 27 until August 30.

As well as the work on the junction, a bus lane and cycle lane from Chestnut Avenue to the junction will be constructed. There will be a dedicated left turn from Cricklade Road to Beechcroft Road when approaching from the north.

Cabinet member for strategic infrastructure, transport and planning Gary Sumner said: “The council is leading on over £100m worth of investment to improve Swindon’s road network through various highways projects.

“The Moonrakers junction is an essential part of this investment and will help to improve journey times and reliability for motorists and buses travelling between north Swindon and the town centre.”  

Southbound traffic will be diverted via the A419 south to the White Hart, Oxford Road, Greenbridge and Magic roundabouts, County Road and Cirencester Way.

Westbound vehicles will be sent back along Beechcroft Road, down Ermin Street, Hobley Drive, Hobley Road to Bridge End Road and Gipsy Lane, up Cirencester Way and through Pinehurst. 

Traffic heading east will be asked to use Cheney Manor Road and Rodbourne Road, then onto Great Western Way at Bruce Street Bridges to the Transfer Bridges roundabout to Cirencester Way.
 Details of progress will be in a monthly emailed newsletter. Sign up to be sent the updates at www.swindon.gov.uk/newsletter