£500 million A417 road project one step closer to reality
The scheme is looking to ease congestion between Gloucestershire and Swindon
Last updated 31st Aug 2021
A major South West road project is one step closer to fruition.
National Highways has submitted plans for the A417 'Missing Link', upgrading a three-mile stretch of single-lane carriageway.
The A417 is a key route between Gloucestershire and Swindon, often used by commuters. It also connects the South West to the West Midlands, offering an alternative to the M5/M4 route via Bristol.
The scheme, which is expected to cost the taxpayer up to £500 million, intends to improve a section of the A417 by building 3.4 miles of new dual carriageway. The 'Missing Link' would connect the existing A417 Brockworth bypass with the existing A417 dual carriageway south of Cowley.
National Highways has been working on the project since 2016, in an attempt to ease congestion in a part of Gloucestershire that is notorious for collisions and air pollution.
The traffic also impacts local towns and villages, as some motorists divert onto local roads to avoid tailbacks. Many of these neighbouring communities were not designed to accommodate such high numbers of vehicles.
If approved, the 'Missing Link' would remove the only junctions between Gloucestershire and Swindon on the A417 - with a dual carriageway for the entire stretch of road instead.
The proposed roadworks are forecast to take between three and three-and-a-half years to complete - and National Highways has acknowledged the potential disruption to local people.
Thousands of residents have been asked for their views on the initiative during three public consultations.
'Enormous areas of habitat creation'
The 'Missing Link' is also situated within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
During the planning process, National Highways has liaised with stakeholders to mitigate the project's potential impact on the environment. The National Trust, Cotswolds Conservation Board and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust have all been consulted.
Michael Goddard, the Project Director, has told Greatest Hits Radio his team are "acutely aware" of the need to build the 'Missing Link' sustainably.
"We are now progressing with a scheme that has enormous areas of habitat creation, hedgerows, Cotswolds drystone walling.
"All of these things are really important in terms of creating the best habitat for flower and fauna, but also the right mix of things for the Cotswolds.
"We are working hard with as many people as we can to make sure that the scheme plants the right habitats, improves air quality, improves quality of life for people in these villages as well, " he added.
According to National Highways, a final decision on the scheme is expected from the Planning Inspectorate and Secretaries of State around Easter-time next year.
The agency wants construction to get underway in early 2023.