Biggest crossing in Britain to be constructed over new £460m UK twin carriageway | UK | News | EUROtoday

One of the most important street bridges in Britain is to be constructed over a brand new £460m twin carriageway.

The Gloucestershire Way Crossing can be 37-metres extensive to get cyclists, horse-riders and walkers throughout the brand new A417 Missing Link street. It would be the third and largest multi-purpose street crossing within the UK.

The crossing will even embrace a 27-metre strip of calcareous (chalky) grassland and hedgerows. The National Highways street undertaking, which is able to imply the tip of the infamous single-carriageway part of the A417 at Birdlip, is scheduled for completion in spring 2027.

Anyone driving across the space of building (from the Air Balloon roundabout to the Cowley roundabout) will see enormous earthworks going down in addition to large adjustments to street layouts.

These embrace the brand new mini-roundabouts on the prime of Leckhampton Hill the place it joins the A436 and the contraflow system on the Cowley finish. It additionally led to the demolition of the Air Balloon pub.

More particulars in regards to the A417 scheme have been launched following the signing of a landmark settlement between National Highways and Natural England which goals to help the supply of world-class nationwide infrastructure while guaranteeing higher outcomes for the setting.

It was signed on the landscape-led A417 Missing Link undertaking, which goals to ship four-miles of a safer street with free-flowing visitors whereas conserving and enhancing the particular character, pure magnificence and wildlife of the Cotswolds National Landscape.

The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines the framework for collaboration between the 2 organisations and its major goal is enhancing environmental outcomes alongside the Strategic Road Network (SRN).

Steve Foxley, A417 Project Director, added: “It’s a privilege to have the Memorandum of Understanding signed on the A417 Missing Link scheme, a undertaking that really displays our dedication to sustainable infrastructure.

“This landscape-led scheme is a testament to how we can integrate world-class environmental practices alongside vital transport improvements.

“From wildlife crossings to new habitats, we’ve taken great care to ensure that our work respects and enhances the stunning Cotswold landscape.”

Emma Johnson, West Midlands deputy director, Natural England, mentioned: “This agreement (MoU) will help us work even better with National Highways to develop strategic approaches to issues such as air pollution.

“Also to optimise the National Highways’ soft estate* to improve the connection of spaces rich in nature and on a grand scale.

“We have worked with National Highways on the A417 road scheme, which was the location for the MoU signing, to achieve significant improvements to the original proposal.

“Meaning that the final solution is better for nature and people. The sort of actions that have been agreed include a diversion of the Cotswold Way National Trail onto a new bridge, making use of and improving the old carriageway which will make the trail more accessible.

“The road scheme will benefit Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake SSSI, as well as 72.5ha of new calcareous grassland as part of biodiversity net gain.”