Tragedy has struck once again on the notorious A417 road in Gloucestershire, claiming another life along a stretch infamous for its dangerous conditions.
Over the past five years, six fatalities have been recorded on this section of the A417, a route widely recognised as a crash blackspot due to its steep gradients, congested junctions, and narrow single-lane sections that create severe bottlenecks.
Known as the “Missing Link,” this three-mile stretch of single carriageway sits between two dual carriageway sections, forcing traffic into a hazardous winding lane. National Highways acknowledges the presence of “poor visibility and other factors” contributing to the frequent serious crashes here.
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To address these dangers, the ongoing A417 Missing Link project—estimated to cost between £460 million and £500 million—aims to improve safety and reduce congestion while conserving the beauty of the Cotswolds National Landscape. The new dual carriageway is scheduled to open to traffic in spring 2027.
Despite these plans, the road continues to witness serious incidents. On February 1, a fatal two-vehicle crash near Birdlip resulted in the death of a man, while two women and two children were hospitalised. Previous tragic incidents include a 20-year-old who died in a tractor crash in October 2025, a biker fatally injured in a single-vehicle accident in April 2025, and multiple fatal crashes in 2021 and 2022 involving cars, motorcycles, and lorries.
Beyond fatalities, the A417 has seen numerous other accidents, including severe injuries requiring airlifts and collisions with the central reservation. A 2022 crash map highlighted a cluster of serious injuries and deaths between the Air Balloon and Cowley roundabouts, further underscoring the road’s perilous nature.
With continual crashes posing ongoing risks to motorists, the replacement of this dangerous stretch with a modern dual carriageway is a crucial step toward safer journeys for everyone using the A417.