Background of the A417 Missing Link
90% of the A417 route is dual carriageway, there is one section that isn’t - the Missing Link.
c.37,000 vehicles per day climb Crickley Hill (10% gradient), with approx. 10% being HGVs.
Congestion is frequent at Air Balloon and Cowley roundabouts, collisions and breakdowns are a common occurrence
Rat running through local villages is a further safety issue
We plan to build 3.4 miles (5.5km) of new dual carriageway, which will:
- improve road safety,
- reduce congestion, and
- improve connectivity for road users and local communities
The solution
- Maintaining the existing alignment up Crickley Hill, new section diverts to the east just before the Air Balloon pub
- Offline section between Ullenwood and Cowley junction
- Air Balloon and Cowley roundabouts removed
- Major junction at Shab Hill, for journeys to Birdlip, Cowley, Cheltenham and Oxford
- Existing section of A417 converted to walking, cycling and horse riding route
- False cuttings used to reduce visual impact
- Two new crossings for Cotswold and Gloucestershire Way walking trails
- 2020 design changes:
- altered gradient and removed green bridge
- Added 37m-wide Glos. Way bridge
- Removed virtually all retaining structures,
- Scheme is unlit to maintain ‘dark skies
- Working with conservation groups has been at the heart of our landscape-led approach.
- Crossings have been a key focus of collaborative design sessions
- Working with our stakeholders and taking them on the journey has been key to developing this scheme.
For more information, please refer to the following documents:
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