Drivers in Gloucestershire will begin using a new section of the A417 Missing Link scheme from 6am on Friday 18 September, marking a significant milestone in the delivery of the upgrade between Gloucester and Cirencester. Following the traffic switch, drivers travelling northbound from Cirencester towards Gloucester will continue directly along the new A417 without leaving the route at Shab Hill junction.
Southbound traffic travelling from Gloucester will continue straight ahead towards Cowley junction and Cirencester on the new A417, following the removal of the Air Balloon roundabout.
The new B4070 leading to Birdlip and the northbound slip road at Cowley junction will open later this year. Access to Birdlip will remain via the existing route through Cowley junction.
The new road layout will bring significant changes for motorists travelling to Gloucester from Cheltenham via Leckhampton Hill and from Oxford via Seven Springs and the A436.
There will no longer be a direct route from Cheltenham and Oxford to Gloucester. Instead, traffic will use the new A436 to reach Shab Hill junction, where drivers can either continue towards Cirencester, or use the underpass to access the northbound slip road towards Gloucester.
National Highways, which is behind the £460 million scheme along with contractor Kier, said the switchover was dependent on the weather.
Céline Acard, National Highways senior project manager for the scheme, said the upgrade would “transform journeys” between Gloucester and Cirencester and bring long-term benefits for local businesses.
“By switching traffic onto this new section now, it enables users to follow the new A417 from Gloucester to Cheltenham, improving journeys and safety while minimising disruption and protecting our workforce,” Acard said.
“We appreciate this work may cause some delays when the layout first changes but we expect journey times to improve on the A417 following the switch.”
Click HERE to listen to the Highways Voices episode dedicated to the project that we recorded earlier this year.
(Picture: Missing Link)
