A417 Closure this Weekend: Expect a Long Diversion in Gloucestershire

The A417 will close for road work near Crickley Hill. Work includes drainage and utilities. Closures start Friday, February 21, at 11 p.m. Roads reopen Monday, February 24, at 6 a.m.

Expect another closure soon, from the A46 junction to Air Balloon roundabout. It shuts down Friday, March 7, at 11 p.m., and reopens Monday, March 10, at 6 a.m. Follow the official diversion route; don’t trust your GPS during this project!

This project costs £460 million and is planned to be finished in spring 2027. You may have spotted changes already. The Air Balloon pub is gone to make a new location for the roundabout, and new roundabouts have been made for the time being.

Closures may seem annoying, but planners try to reduce problems. Avoid the A417 area when possible, and if travel is necessary, allow extra time. Employ the signed diversion routes provided, and your patience helps them make vital road changes.

For the northbound diversion: Exit at Brockworth and turn left onto A46 Shurdington Road towards Cheltenham. Turn right onto A40 Thirlestaine Road towards Oxford, then right onto A40 Old Bath Road to Cirencester. Turn right onto A435 towards Cirencester, and proceed straight to Birdlip. Turn right at Seven Springs roundabout onto A436, then left onto A417 towards Cirencester.

Here’s the Air Balloon roundabout to Brockworth junction route. From Seven Springs, follow signs for Cirencester and continue onto A435. Turn left onto the A40 towards Cheltenham, and then left onto A40 Old Bath Road. Follow the road to the right, staying on A40. Turn left onto A46 Shurdington Road, and take the third exit at Brockworth for Gloucester.

The A417 Missing Link project includes several updates, featuring 3.4 miles of new dual carriageway. It links Brockworth bypass to Cowley, connecting the M5 to the M4.

The new road west of Air Balloon follows the A417. South and east of Air Balloon, it shifts away. A new junction at Shab Hill will link A417 to A436, connecting Oxford and Birdlip areas. A new junction near Cowley replaces Cowley roundabout.

The old A417 between Air Balloon and Cowley will change. Some parts will be converted for walkers and cyclists, while other sections will stay open for local access.