Road closures as work on A417 'missing link' continues

The plans include a 37m (121ft 3in) wide crossing for walkers using the Gloucestershire Way

A major road is set to close overnight as work on a "missing link" scheme continues.

Both directions of the A417 between the Air Balloon roundabout and A416 at Brockworth, Gloucestershire, will close weeknights between 21:00 and 06:00 GMT from 8 January to 2 February.

The closures are being put in place so engineers can widen the carriageway.

National Highways said it was crucial to "minimising disruption" in the second phase of construction. 

Motorists will be diverted via the A46, A40, A435 and A436, routes agreed with Gloucestershire County Council.

The £460m road scheme hopes to improve a traffic bottleneck on the A417 by creating a three-mile (4.8km) dual carriageway between Gloucester and Cirencester, bypassing the Air Balloon roundabout to help reduce delays.

As part of the works, a stretch of the A436 and the top of Leckhampton Lane will also close for a full weekend from 21:00 on 19 January to 05:00 GMT on 22 January.

The closure will allow workers to create a new site entrance, remove existing traffic islands and create a temporary roundabout.

National Highways said all traffic will be diverted via the A40, A46, A453 and A436, with Crickley Hill Country Park and National Star College open for business as usual.