A417 average speed cameras being installed on notorious section

A steep section of the A417[1] in Gloucestershire will soon be under the watchful gaze of average speed cameras. It comes as the massive road building programme to build a new GBP450m bypass at Birdlip continues. The new cameras will be put in place along the Crickley Hill stretch, running from the A46 Brockworth junction to the top of the hill at the Air Balloon roundabout near Birdlip.

This is a notoriously steep stretch, with two lanes of traffic going up and one coming down. This part of the A417 is being closed overnight this week (from 9pm to 6am until Friday) with a 10-mile official diversion in place. The diversion is the A46 Shurdington Road, A40 Thirlestaine Road, A40 Old Bath Road, A345, A436 and A417.

National Highways said the overnight works will also see the road realigned, the replacement of cones, and setting barriers. It added: "These closures are necessary to ensure the safety of our workforce and to reduce disruption to drivers during periods of lighter traffic."

Motorists have also been warned that noisy works are also going to be taking place as the new 3.5mile bypass[2] is built between the Air Balloon and Cowley roundabouts. The road - that will provide full dual-carriageway links between the M5 at Brockworth and the M4 at Swindon - is due to be completed in spring 2027.

"We will also be carrying out sheet piling during the day between the hours of 7am and 6pm from Monday 27 January for approximately three weeks," National Highways said: "We apologise for the noise caused by this work" "We are making every effort to minimise noise levels and complete the work as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time."

Average speed cameras are also in place on the A417 near Cowley roundabout in the new contraflow system. Speed limits are 40mph and 50mph. We're now on Bluesky, follow us at @gloslive.co.uk[3]

National Highways' A417 Missing Link scheme includes

• 3.4 miles of new dual carriageway connecting the existing A417 Brockworth bypass with the existing A417 dual carriageway south of Cowley and ultimately, the M5 in Gloucestershire and the M4 in Swindon, Wiltshire
• the section to the west of the existing Air Balloon roundabout would follow the existing A417 corridor.

  However, the section to the south and east of the Air Balloon roundabout would be offline, away from the existing road corridor;

• a new junction at Shab Hill, providing a link from the A417 to the A436 towards Oxford and into Birdlip;
• a new junction near Cowley, replacing the existing Cowley roundabout;
• the existing A417 between the Air Balloon roundabout and the Cowley roundabout would be repurposed, converting some lengths of this existing road into a route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, while retaining other sections to maintain local access for residents.

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References

1. ^ A417 (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
2. ^ new 3.5mile bypass (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
3. ^ @gloslive.co.uk (bsky.app)
4. ^ Gloucestershire Live (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
5. ^ click this link and select 'Join Community'. (chat.whatsapp.com)
6. ^ Gloucestershire Live (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
7. ^ Privacy Notice. (www.reachplc.com)
8. ^ Click here to join our WhatsApp community. (chat.whatsapp.com)