[VIDEO] New roundabout begins construction on A417 Missing Link project

Work began over the weekend of 12-15 September on the new Cowley roundabout, as the project continues to take shape on an important stretch of road

National Highways are undertaking the A417 Missing Link project is working to establish another route between Gloucester and Swindon, and providing an alternate route from the M5/M4.

The link will be three miles of a single-lane carriageway between Brockworth bypass and Cowley Roundabout.

Consistently high levels of congestion in the area

Due to the levels of traffic on the A417, many road users attempt to bypass the traffic by diverting to local roads, unfortunately increasing the frequency and unpredictability of traffic for residents and communities.

The A417 Missing Link project includes:

• 4 miles of new dual carriageway connecting the existing A417 Brockworth bypass with the existing A417 dual carriageway south of Cowley
• A section to the west of the existing Air Balloon roundabout that will follow the existing A417 corridor. However, the section to the south and east of the Air Balloon roundabout will be offline, away from the existing road corridor
• A new junction at Shab Hill, providing a link from the A417 to the A436 towards Oxford and into Birdlip
• A new junction near Cowley, to replace the existing Cowley Roundabout
• The existing A417 between the Air Balloon roundabout and the Cowley Roundabout is being repurposed. We are converting some lengths of this existing road into a route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, while retaining other sections to maintain local access for residents.

The objectives of the scheme are to reduce delays and free up the road networks in the area, while while improving the environment, heritage, and risk for accidents.

£24bn has been promised for road enhancements

In July, the government announced that five strategic road schemes will be recipient to part of a £92bn investment into road and rail improvements, with £24bn being put towards motorways, trunk roads, and local roads.

This includes the M54 to M6 link in Staffordhsire, the A38 Derby Junctions, the A46 Newark Bypass in Nottinghamshire, and the M60/M62/M66 Simister Island in Greater Manchester.

This is expected to bring about 42,000 new jobs and 39,000 new homes.

Chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “These vital investments are long overdue, will transform local communities and improve living standards across the country.
“Investments like these are only possible because we took the right decisions to stabilise our public finances and changed the fiscal rules so we can invest in Britain’s renewal, grow the economy and put more money in working people’s pockets.”

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