The A436 closes for road work late March, adding 12 miles to trips. Detours in place from Air Balloon to Seven Springs.
The closure starts Friday, March 28, at 9 PM and ends Monday, March 31, at 6 AM. This is part of a larger road project. The Air Balloon roundabout will stay open, allowing A417 traffic to pass.
The A436 and Leckhampton Hill top will also close, adding twelve miles to journeys via a detour. Crickley Hill Country Park will still be open and accessible through the closure on Leckhampton Hill.
Going east from Air Balloon to Seven Springs involves a detour. Follow the A417 toward Gloucester first, then turn right onto the A46 towards Cheltenham. Next, turn right onto the A40 to Oxford, followed by a right towards Cirencester. Lastly, turn right onto the A435.
For those going west from Seven Springs to Air Balloon, continue on the A436 towards Cheltenham. Turn left onto the A40 London Road, then left towards Gloucester. Take another left onto the A40 Bath Road and finally, turn left onto the A46.
Besides the weekend shutdown, the eastbound A436 closes nights before from March 24 to March 27, running from 9 PM to 6 AM. Westbound remains open during these times. Eastbound drivers will need to use the detour.
The road work connects to a bigger project: the A417 Missing Link scheme. They are building a new dual carriageway, and this work should finish in 2027, costing £460 million.
The Missing Link project has a few parts, including adding 3.4 miles of new dual carriageway. This connects two existing A417 sections. West of Air Balloon, it follows the A417, while east of Air Balloon, it goes offline.
A new junction at Shab Hill is also planned. This will link the A417 to the A436, allowing access towards Oxford and Birdlip. Expect another junction near Cowley, replacing the Cowley roundabout.
The old A417 road will change into a path for walkers, cyclists, and horses. Some parts will remain for local access, keeping access for nearby residents.