Works to reduce congestion at Junction 15 of the M4 and the A419 have begun today.

The scheme will cost £17.5m and is being led by Highways England with additional funding by Swindon Borough Council (£4.8m) and its partners SWLEP (£3m) and Persimmon and Redrow (£4.35m).

The year-long project aims to improve journey times and reliability for motorists by tackling congestion at the busy M4 junction and on the A419, particularly at peak times in the area.

The works will include the widening of a number of roads on the A419 approach as well as the M4 sliproads.

Existing footpaths will also be upgraded and a new signalised pedestrian crossing over the M4 Junction 15 westbound entry slip road will be installed.

During the scheme, embankments will be cleared and remodelled, and the Day House Lane road, although closed to vehicles, will remain open for non-motorised users.

Throughout the project, any work requiring overnight closures and traffic management arrangements will be communicated in advance.

Swindon Borough Council’s £4.8m investment will complement more than £72.5m in road improvements at the nearby New Eastern Villages development.