A “nightmare” roundabout which has left baffled road users “confused” for years is located in one of the UK’s biggest commuter towns.
The so-called ‘Magic Roundabout’ in Swindon is one of the craziest in the country with designers incorporating five smaller mini roundabouts around a central island.
Experts at Dangerous Roads have dubbed the route “one of the most complex rotaries in the world” and consider it one of the globe’s top 10 roundabouts ever built.
In 2009, the road section was even voted the fourth scariest junction in Britain among regular motorists.
The route connects six separate routes and is located on the side of Swindon Town FC’s County Ground stadium.
There have been around 14 serious accidents and just over a hundred minor incidents recorded at the site in the past 25 years.
The stunning layout has even made it onto TripAdvisor where angry road users vent their frustration over the complex system.
One road user previously said: “Driving home after being diverted off the M4 twice at midnight, this monstrosity is one way to slap yourself silly. Totally confused me and Tesco lorry driver. Satan himself designed this.”
Another said: “It came up on my Sat-Nav. Thank goodness I had one. Whoever designed this had a larf. And whoever approved it needs their bumps feeling.” (sic)
One motorist explained: “So confusing I no longer go on it, finding new ways around. How there are not more accidents I don’t know, about time it was redesigned.”
Another frustrated road user commented: “This roundabout is a nightmare and as a Swindon resident, I avoid it at all costs! Cars come at you from all directions and one never really knows who has right of way!”
Conservative councillors had called on local officials to celebrate the roundabout by turning it into a tourist attraction.
Councillors Kevin and Barbara Parry suggested installing an attraction on the central island to make the roundabout more engaging.
This would involve designing a series of new characters which could sit in the roundabout.
However, the plan was rejected by council leader Jim Robbins who stressed there was a lack of funds for such a project.
He said: “This isn’t something we can support. We understand the motives behind the motion and it’s a thing to do, but we don’t have the officer time or money to put into this.”