A major infrastructure project known as the A417 Missing Link is underway in Gloucestershire with an aim to transform travel in the region. The ambitious project stands as one of Gloucestershire’s most significant road developments in years—improving safety, easing congestion, and strengthening connections between the Midlands and the South of England.
The authorities are building a new dual carriageway to bridge two key motorways. The goal is to eliminate traffic bottlenecks and reduce the disruption caused by drivers taking shortcut routes through local roads. A section known as the “Missing Link” refers to a three-mile stretch of single-lane road on the A417 between the Brockworth bypass and Cowley Roundabout in Gloucestershire.
The Government approved a £460 million upgrade in November 2022 to replace the existing single carriageway with a new dual carriageway.
The National Highways explained that the A417/A419 is a key road linking Gloucester and Swindon, offering a route between the Midlands and the South that avoids the M5 and M4 through Bristol.
Part of the new route will follow the current A417 corridor west of the Air Balloon roundabout, while the section to the south and east will take a completely new path, bypassing the existing road.
The scheme also features a new junction at Shab Hill to connect the A417 with the A436 toward Oxford and Birdlip, along with another junction near Cowley that will replace the current Cowley Roundabout.
Additionally, the stretch of the existing A417 between the Air Balloon and Cowley roundabouts will be repurposed: some parts will become dedicated paths for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, and other sections will be kept to maintain local access for residents.
However, the A417 in Gloucester will be closed between the Air Balloon roundabout and the A429 Burford roundabout over three weekends.
The A417 will be temporarily closed between the Air Balloon Roundabout and the A429 Burford Road junction during three weekend periods this summer. The scheduled closures are from 11pm on Friday 25 July to 6am on Monday 28 July, 11pm on Friday 1 August to 6am on Monday 4 August, and again from 11pm on Friday 29 August to 6am on Monday 1 September.
These closures are part of ongoing improvement works and may affect travel in the Gloucestershire area during those times.
National Highways Senior Project Manager Celine Acard said: “We’re making good progress on the scheme but to maintain the programme we need to employ the full closures on this section to facilitate essential work on the utilities chambers.
“We fully appreciate that road closures can be frustrating, but we’re unable to carry out the work while the road is open to traffic.
“We’ve planned the diversions to minimise disruption, we’re anticipating an additional 25 minutes to drivers’ travel time and in the meantime we thank people for their co-operation and patience, and advise people to plan ahead and allow a little extra time for their journeys.”