A417: Missing Link Work A Step Nearer

30 April 2014, 12:12 | Updated: 30 April 2014, 12:14

The fix for 'The Missing Link' on the A417 is one step closer to funding with support from the Highways Agency.

Support to solve The Missing Link has grown after the scheme was added to a list of roads in the south west that are challenged because of capacity, safety and environmental issues. 

The Highways Agency has recognised local concerns about the route following stakeholder events in the region, and highlighted the issue in its route strategy report. 

The report follows a campaign by Gloucestershire County Council to support the A417 Loop - a £255 million scheme to improve the road. 

It means the 5km stretch of the A417 - known locally as the Missing Link - is one step closer to finding funding when the Government allocates cash in spring 2015.

 The road is used by more than 34,000 vehicles a day and has one of the worst average vehicle delays of all routes in the region. There have been more than 340 casualties on the road in the past 15 years. 

More than 4,600 local people and businesses have now pledged their support to the Loop, which would replace the Highways Agency-maintained single-lane route from Cowley to Brockworth with a dual carriageway, among other improvements. 

The Highways Agency says the report has identified a number of key challenges and opportunities with the road, concerning capacity, safety and the environment. It also says that recent fatal collisions on the stretch of A417 weren’t included in the report because validated data was not available at the time, however there could be value in reassessing more recent incident data to understand the situation.

The county council has already offered to help fund the Loop to the tune of £500,000, demonstrating its commitment to finding a long-term solution.

Local business owners and commuters are encouraged to show their support for the A417 Loop by signing up and pledging their backing at www.a417missinglink.co.uk or emailing info@a417missinglink.co.uk. You can also follow us at @A417Loop on Twitter.