A newly released video captures the remarkable progress of the A417 Missing Link project in Gloucestershire throughout 2025. The footage offers a sweeping aerial perspective of the transformative construction near Birdlip, where a new four-mile dual carriageway is taking shape alongside several new bridges and junctions.
The project, a collaboration between National Highways and Kier Construction, has significantly altered the landscape over the last 12 months, particularly at Crickley Hill. Here, extensive earthworks have reshaped the hillside, enabling the creation of a safer, more efficient road layout. The upgraded section will feature three uphill lanes and two downhill lanes, divided by a central reservation to enhance traffic flow.
Additionally, the hill’s gradient is being softened from 10% to 8%, providing a gentler, safer ascent for motorists. The video also reveals the progress of the Gloucestershire Way Crossing—an environmentally friendly bridge designed to protect wildlife by offering a safe passage over the road.
READ MORE: Wise Men and Fluffy Sheep Shine in School Christmas Nativity Performances
The Cowley Overbridge is another key development, facilitating both vehicle and pedestrian access across the network. Beyond that, improvements to the A417 leading from Shab junction are poised to stimulate local economic growth by improving journey reliability and connectivity.
A new B4070 link will connect Barrow Wake to Shab junction, helping to cut down traffic congestion and pollution while enhancing access for residents and visitors to the surrounding countryside. The existing single-carriageway stretch between the Air Balloon and Cowley roundabouts will be repurposed as a pathway for walkers and horse riders, adding to recreational opportunities.
One of the project’s critical goals is to eliminate delays caused by the Air Balloon roundabout bottleneck. The upcoming bypass will establish a continuous dual carriageway between the M5 at Brockworth and the M4 at Swindon. The completed route is scheduled to open in Spring 2027, promising smoother journeys for drivers across the region.