Concerns over 40-mile diversion for roadworks

1 hour ago

Carmelo GarciaLocal Democracy Reporting Service

The Over Bridge spans the river Severn and links three key Gloucestershire towns and cities

Gloucestershire County Council A view of the Over Bridge over the river Severn with light traffic on it. Underneath the water of the river, which is dark brown, can be seen flowing — The Over Bridge spans the river Severn and links three key Gloucestershire towns and cities

Concerns have been raised over the impact of road closures that could see diversions of about 40 miles.

National Highways will carry out repairs on the Over Bridge on the A40, which spans the river Severn and links Gloucester and Ross-on-Wye, from 29 June until March 2027.

The road carries about 5,000 vehicles an hour at peak times, and concerns have been raised about the increased travel times for the emergency services.

When questioned at a Gloucestershire County Council meeting on 24 June, Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member responsible for the fire service, said that they had been reassured that access will be given "just like every other emergency service".

"If there are issues that come through, just let me know because we can then get straight onto National Highways as a result of that," he added.

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Overnight closures will begin on 29 June and will see the A40 closed between Over and Hinghnam roundabouts between 20:00 and 06:00 BST.

The £7m investment is designed to extend the life of the bridge and reduce the risk of unplanned closures in the future,

The dedicated slip road from the A417 Over Causeway to the A40 Westbound will remain closed throughout.

Traffic will be diverted via the A417, A449 and A40 during this time and a temporary speed limit of 30mph will also be in place.

The work will include repairs to the concrete, new waterproofing and better drainage.

"Many of the motorways and major A roads we manage were built around 60 years ago and need renewing to ensure they remain fit for purpose for generations to come," said Terry Robinson, engineering lead for National Highways South West.

"We're expecting this work to cause delays in the area during this complex scheme and we're advising users to plan their journeys and use alternative routes where possible."

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