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Hochtief wins £11m M4 junction 16 upgrade near Swindon

Hochtief has been appointed as the contractor for the forthcoming £11m transformation of Junction 16 of the M4 at Windmill Hill Business Park, near Swindon

The firm, which has its UK headquarters at the business park, was chosen as the preferred contractor following a recent tender process and initial work on the key highway interchange, including site surveys, office installation and clearance work will start by mid-October. Major construction work is due to start from mid-November.

The project will cost around £11.5 million and is being funded by Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Wichelstowe development. It is being delivered by Swindon Borough Council in partnership with Highways England and Wiltshire Council.

The redesign of the motorway junction is needed to cope with future traffic levels and also housing development in the surrounding area. Around 5,500 vehicles an hour currently use Junction 16 at morning and evening peak times and this is predicted to more than double over the coming years.

The work will see the roundabout altered and slip roads widened. Traffic signals will also be replaced and improvements will also be made to the junction’s drainage.

Dale Heenan, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for Sustainability and Transport, said: “Now we have appointed Hochtief as the contractor, the work on the much needed improvements to Junction 16 can start in earnest. The Council is committed to improving the road infrastructure across the borough to ensure there is increased capacity in place before major housing developments are built. This scheme is part of our five-year strategic highways improvement programme, which will benefit not just people in Swindon, but those living in Wiltshire and visitors to the town.

“Hochtief has an excellent track record of delivering major highways projects across the country. The fact Junction 16 is on the doorstep of the company’s headquarters also adds some additional local interest to the project.”

Sally Cox, Hochtief managing director, said, “We are delighted to be working with Swindon Borough Council, Highways England and Wiltshire Council to deliver these important improvements which will have a positive impact on the local area. We will work closely with Swindon Borough Council to keep road users and the local community informed about the project.”

Further details about the scheme can be found at www.swindon.gov.uk/junction16.

If you would like to contact Andy Walker about this, or any other story, please email awalker@infrastructure-intelligence.com.