A417 Missing Link

The Missing Link is a three-mile stretch of single-lane carriageway on the A417 within the natural and historic environment of the Cotswolds between the Brockworth bypass and Cowley roundabout in Gloucestershire and part of an important route between Gloucester and Swindon that helps connect the Midlands/North to the South of England.

The Missing Link causes many problems for road users and those who live or work in the area. Congestion can be frequent and unpredictable, so some motorists divert onto local roads to avoid tailbacks. This causes difficulties for neighbouring communities and local roads were not built to accommodate so much traffic. Poor visibility and other factors also mean that accidents, many of which are serious, occur frequently along this section of road.

This section of the A417 is being improved with a landscape led scheme that includes 3.4 miles of new dual carriageway connecting the existing A417 Brockworth bypass with the existing A417 dual carriageway south of Cowley, partly following the existing corridor and partly offline. New junctions are included at Shab Hill, providing a link from the A417 to the A436 towards Oxford and into Birdlip and also near Cowley, replacing the existing Cowley roundabout. The existing A417 between the Air Balloon roundabout and the Cowley roundabout is to be repurposed with some lengths of the existing road turned into a route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, with other sections retained to maintain local access for residents. The project will create a free-flowing road network, improve safety, reduce the impact on the landscape, help boost growth and prosperity and, where possible, enhance the surrounding environment.

The project is being delivered by Kier Highways and Tony Gee are undertaking design for Kier as part of the Professional Service Alliance (comprising Tony Gee, RPS & Kier Highways Design Solutions). Tony Gee are involved with Structures, Geotechnical, Highways and Drainage design. For Structures, detailed design for six new crossings will be undertaken: Grove Farm Underpass, Cotswold Way Crossing, Gloucestershire Way Crossing, Shab Hill Underbridge, Cowley Overbridge and Stockwell Overbridge. Highways and Drainage scope is for the majority of the non-mainline aspects, including Ullenwood Junction and Shab Hill Junction. Geotechnical scope is aligned and to be provided for the same elements.