A417 Missing Link goes big for new junction
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The A417 Missing Link project has hit its next major milestone –
building a new underbridge that will form part of a major new
junction. National Highways, along with contractor Kier, has this
week started lifting 53 20-tonne pre-stressed concrete beams into
place that carry nine lanes of traffic over the new Shab Valley
junction. Once lifted into place, the beams will form an
underbridge 20 metres wide and 62 metres long, providing access to
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The A417 Missing Link project has hit its next major milestone – building a new underbridge that will form part of a major new junction. National Highways, along with contractor Kier, has this week started lifting 53 20-tonne pre-stressed concrete beams into place that carry nine lanes of traffic over the new Shab Valley junction. Once lifted into place, the beams will form an underbridge 20 metres wide and 62 metres long, providing access to nearby kennels, residents and factories when switched from existing to new road through Shab underbridge. It will also allow traffic from the A436 Seven Spring and the B4070 Birdlip to easily enter and exit the new A417 without disrupting the flow of traffic. Concrete beams were chosen over steel beams as a construction solution due to their performance and practicality. The reduced weight of concrete enables construction using a smaller crane which simplifies logistics, manages health and safety risks, and lowers overall construction costs when compared with a steel girder construction. Longer term, it also reduces maintenance requirements by utilising an integral construction and concrete specification tailored to local environmental conditions. Celine Acard, National Highways' Senior Project Manager for the A417 Missing Link, said: “We're really proud of the progress we're making on this major upgrade of the A417, and work taking shape on the new Shab Valley junction is a testament to our pace and efficiency on the scheme. “We're keen to make sure that this scheme benefits the local community as well as motorists and the new junction will ensure easy access to and from the main carriageway whilst minimising disruption. Colin Fowler, Head of Highways at Tony Gee who designed the bridge, added: “The philosophy behind the junction design was to work with the natural topography, setting the underpass within the Shab Valley. “This will reduce the elevation of the A417 carried by the bridge, minimising visual and noise impact of the new road. A bridge set into the landscape in this way required a structural solution which would last. “The integral bridge with precast prestressed concrete beam deck will require only minimal maintenance through its' lifetime and importantly will not require closure of the A417 above to do it.” Following the beams being lifted into place, the new nine lanes of carriageway, five of which make up the main A417, will be built on top, along with entry and exit slip roads. The underbridge is a major milestone for the scheme, with its construction allowing National Highways to look towards a traffic switch from the existing A417 and onto the new stretch of road in early 2026. The scheme has also recently hit other milestones, including lifting in the steel beams for 42 metres long Cowley bridge, which will link Cowley to Stockwell Farm and the repurposed A417, and the creation of a new water course. Rather than diverting streams through culverts, the scheme created a new watercourse as a more sustainable solution. This was developed in close collaboration with the Environment Agency and ecological specialists, reflecting National Highways shared commitment to working with the landscape. The stream gently follows a natural, meandering path, encouraging the creation of habitats and supporting local biodiversity. There's also potential for tufa formations, which are calcium carbonate deposits that can form when spring water interacts with limestone. These formations help create ideal conditions for aquatic invertebrates to thrive. Zeke Mensah-Kessie, Kier's Environmental Manager for the A417 Missing Link, said: “Instead of the typical culvert diversion, we are delighted to have implemented a more sustainable solution, creating a naturally meandering stream across the landscape in keeping with the scheme's environmental aspirations. “The design enhances water quality via natural filtration, reduces flood risks, and includes features to store and channel floodwaters. It also fosters habitats through diverse planting and captures local spring flows, supporting biodiversity and ecological health over time. “This design exemplifies effective collaboration with the Environment Agency and other local stakeholders to minimise environmental impacts and develop a sustainable, resilient solution.” Ruth Clare, Environment Agency Planning Specialist, added: “The new water course is a great outcome of the A417 project. The Environment Agency has worked closely with Kier and National Highways to help deliver a well-designed environmental feature. “It protects nature while supporting sustainable development.” The landscape-led A417 scheme is not only creating a vital transport link in the Cotswolds, but also incorporates world-class environmental practices that respect and enhance the surrounding landscape and habitats, including:
The latest information on the scheme is available at National Highways' A417 Missing Link web page. |