Following approval by the Council’s Cabinet that the Joint Venture can progress with Phase 3 we have started to plan what the delivery of the Phase will look like.
Phase 3 is a crucial phase as it sees the completion of both the housing areas we have been working on since 2018, the main highway network and the start of work on the final area of Wichelstowe known as The Meadows.
In this post we take a look at the four critical pieces of infrastructure which will be delivered over the next few years.
The Bus Bridge
A road bridge will be constructed joining up Canalside (Barwell Avenue) with The Orchards (Montacute Street). The bridge which crosses the Elcombe Brook will be used by buses, cyclists and pedestrians only and will hopefully form part of bus routes in the future. It will provide an important well-lit crossing between Middle and West Wichel.
Ramps will be built north and south of the road, connecting in with the existing boardwalk to the north, and the future boardwalk (discussed below) to the south.
Preparatory works are already underway but the main construction will commence in early 2027.
Wichel Way
Wichel Way will eventually link all the way across Middle and West Wichel crossing underneath the M4. Various stretches are either built or being built but there remains a missing link between Peglars Way and the Scott Way roundabout.
This road connection will include another bridge crossing of the Elcombe Brook and, as with the bus bridge, a ramp to the north will connect into the boardwalk. A further footpath will run south providing access alongside the attenuation ponds and eventually linking in to the canal towpath.
This will be open to all traffic and will form the main east/west route through Wichelstowe. As with the bus bridge, works will start in earnest early next year.
The Boardwalk
One of the highlights of the past year has been seeing people enjoying the boardwalk. You rarely walk along the route without passing residents taking a walk or children heading to school or the play park.
Following the completion of the two highway works packages above the next section of boardwalk can be constructed linking the two bridges and the existing section. If you have walked around the new Canalside parcel you will see that two of the bridges which will eventually connect into the boardwalk have been constructed and there will be further connections into the Orchards parcels.
The elevated route will continue to provide both east / west and north / south pedestrian connections whilst supporting the central nature corridor. This should come into use in 2028.
Canal Crossing of Mill Lane
The construction of the canal will continue in Phase 3 with the crossing under Mill Lane connecting the East and Middle Wichel canal sections.
These works will be completed in stages over the next few years.
The first stage will see the removal of trees to provide the working room for the canal and to complete the noise bund. These works are planned for early 2027 prior to the bird nesting season and will need the road to be closed for around a week. The second stage will see the temporary diversion of the gas main that runs through the road and will require a second road closure. Working with the utility provider we are hoping that these works can be booked in during the school summer holidays to mitigate impact on the local highway network.
The final stage is planned to start sometime in 2028 and will require a road closure of up to a year as the road and embankment are removed, a concrete box installed and the road reconstructed over the top. The detailed programme for this will be developed in due course with the contractor and the Local Highway Authority, and a further update will be provided.
