Major road near Cheltenham Racecourse facing long temporary closure
It's feared it will cause traffic chaos
Last updated 27th Oct 2024
There are fears the closure of a major road near Cheltenham Racecourse which is collapsing could lead to months of traffic chaos.
The A435 Evesham Road, which is earmarked for a new cycle lane, is due to be closed on October 28 ahead of a longer planned closure from November 4 until February 28, 2025.
This is for works to remediate a slip in the carriageway and over Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway bridge.
As a result, works on installing the A435 Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve Cycleway will be delayed until this is completed.
The cycle path is part of the 26-mile cycle spine project which aims to link Bishop’s Cleeve with Stroud via Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Cheltenham Borough Councillor Stan Smith (People Against Bureaucracy, Prestbury) is concerned over the impact it will have on local traffic.
He said the closure is due to start on Monday after the races this weekend.
“They are going to close the Evesham Road for 14 weeks. It starts on October 28.
“There has been further subsidence by the railway bridge. The field is lower than the road.
“If you go in the field you can see the whole side of the bank is washing away.
“It’s been happening for years. What they used to do before was just come and put more tarmac on top of it to square it.
“We don’t know the chaos it is going to cause around the racecourse at the moment but we will wait and see.”
Environment, economy and planning cabinet member David Gray (C, Winchcombe and Woodmancote) confirmed that remedial work is going to be done.
The actual work on the cycleway will not take place until work to stabilise the surface is completed, he said
“There’s no point in us putting a cycle way in and then sliding down off the hill.”
He said he is looking forward to the cycle path being put in place.
“It’s an important part the 26-mile connectivity,” he said. “More and more is being completed and connecting Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve is an extremely important part of that,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate that it has been slightly delayed because of the issues with the existing road.”
A Gloucestershire County Council spokesperson said: “For the duration of the works, the lane closure with two-way traffic lights is expected to remain in place and access along A435 Evesham Road will continue to be maintained.
“Further updates and information will be provided ahead of works starting. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to highway users as a result of this landslip.”
A435 Evesham Road between Racecourse Roundabout and Hyde Lane/Southam Lane junction will be closed from October 28 October to November 1, 2024.
And the A435 Evesham Road will be closed between Cheltenham Racecourse Roundabout and the Hyde Lane / Southam Lane junction from October 28 to November 1, 2024, between 9.30am and 3.30pm each day.
This is to allow land stabilistation management along with vegetation clearance works in advance of A435 Cycleway Section 2 construction work starting.
To minimise disruption and inconvenience, the road closure is in place during the half term school holiday and during off peak times only.
Access to the garden centre and properties located north of the railway bridge within the closure extent will remain in place via the Hyde Lane / Southam Lane junction.
The diversion route will be along A roads via Cheltenham, Bishop’s Cleeve and Tewkesbury. Please see A435 Evesham Road closure and diversion plan.