About the A417 Missing Link The A417/A419 provides an important route between Gloucester, Cheltenham and Swindon that helps connect the West Midlands and the north to the south of England via the M5 and M4 motorways. While most of the route is dual carriageway, there’s one section that isn’t. Known as the Missing Link, this three-mile stretch of single carriageway on the A417 between the Brockworth bypass and Cowley roundabout severely restricts the flow of traffic. Traffic congestion can be frequent and unpredictable, leading motorists, including HGV drivers, to divert onto smaller local roads to avoid long delays. This causes difficulties for neighbouring communities as these local roads were not built to accommodate such a high level of traffic. The sensitive nature of the Cotswold escarpment, the shape of the landscape and the area being part of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) means that there isn’t an easy answer for improving this section of road. Over the years, there have been numerous attempts to find a solution to the A417 Missing Link. However, in recent years, the case for improvement has become more compelling – to improve safety, support the economy, ease congestion and reduce pollution. We investigated a range of route options for the A417 Missing Link, assessing them against the scheme’s vision and objectives, as well as a range of engineering, economic and financial criteria. Since we announced Option 30 as the preferred route, we’ve been working to refine the scheme so that we can ask you for further feedback on our detailed proposals. ill H n Bentham Crickley Hill to mp A436 Country Park a h A ck 41 e 7 B L Alternative 2: ro ck parallel to Alternative 3: wo rth the A417 via South Hill By pa ss Little Witcombe Alternative1: Rushwood bridge over A417 Kennels Barrow Wake AlternativesAlternatives for for A436 A436 link link and and Shab Shab Hill Hill Opportunity to remove existing Shab Hill junction location under review road and re-connect SSSI junction location under review Birdlip Hill Cowley B4070 link re-aligned to enable re-connection of SSSI A417 alignment moved to the east Birdlip to improve the landscape fit Great Witcombe Stockwell Farm Key Opportunity to remove existing A417 carriageway Option 30 route Golden Heart Inn Birdlip link (B4070) Cowley Junction A436 connection alternatives Nettleton Opportunity to remove section of existing A417 New free-flowing junction at Cowley to replace the existing roundabout and maintain local access Proposed junction location SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest A 4 Diagrammatic plan not to scale, junction arrangements are indicative 1 © Crown copyright and database rights 2019 OS 100030649 7 Brimpsfield Option 30 The consultation showed widespread public support for improving the A417 Missing Link, and particularly for Option 30, which 72% of respondents to the consultation favoured. Highways England – Creative BRS19 0171 BRS19_0171 A417 Consultation Banners_final_16-09-19.indd 3 17/09/2019 09:10:49.