National Highways is reminding drivers that essential maintenance on the A40 at Over in Gloucestershire is set to begin next week. The Over Bridge carries the dual carriageway of the A40 across the River Severn at Over, near Gloucester, with 5,000 vehicles an hour using the structure during peak times.

The road will be closed overnight on Monday 29 June (8pm-6am) between the Over roundabout and Highnam roundabout for the installation of traffic management, with traffic diverted via the A417, A449 and A40.

From Tuesday 30 June, lane 2 will be closed in both directions to enable works to the central barrier and the eventual installation of a contraflow later in the summer.

The dedicated slip road from the A417 Over Causeway to the A40 Westbound will remain closed for the duration of the works.

Terry Robinson, South West Engineering Lead for National Highways, said:

“Many of the motorways and major A roads we manage were built around 60 years ago and need renewing to ensure they remain fit for purpose for generations to come.

“The A40 at Over is now in need of significant work, which is vital to keep drivers safe and the route running into the future.

“We’re expecting this work to cause delays in the area during this complex scheme and we’re advising users to plan their journeys and use alternative routes where possible, especially during peak hours.”

Having been built in the 1970s, the £7 million investment will extend the life of the bridge and reduce the risk of unplanned closures for emergency maintenance work in the future, delivering a more resilient and more reliable route for local communities, businesses and freight.

From June 2026 to March 2027, National Highways will be carrying out repairs and maintenance work on the bridge including repairs to the concrete, new waterproofing, better drainage and other improvements.

(Picture: National Highways)