National Highways is set to invest £7m into essential maintenance on the A40 at Over in Gloucestershire. 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 work will extend the life of the 1970s-built 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.
Terry Robinson, 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 significant 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.
“We’re grateful to people for their patience while this essential maintenance is carried out.”
The dual carriageway is a key part of the road network connecting Gloucester, Cheltenham and Ross on Wye and the A40 connects England and Wales.
Preparation works will begin on 8 June 2026 to install the site compound which will be located on the verge area between the dedicated slip road from the A417 Over Causeway to the A40 Westbound.
As a result, the slip road will be closed to traffic and will remain closed for the duration of the works.
The main works will commence on 29 June 2026 until March 2027, using a mixture of contraflows, lane closures and a reduced speed limit of 30mph for the safety of motorists and workers. There will also be some unavoidable overnight closures with a clearly marked diversion route.
(Picture: National Highways)
