After years of anticipation, the first permanent section of the £450 million A417 Missing Link finally opened this week. Eager to test the new route, I drove the two-mile stretch just hours after its debut—but rapidly found myself stuck in heavy traffic.
The new A436 welcomed vehicles from 6am on Monday, July 6, coinciding with the permanent closure of the old single-carriageway A417 between Air Balloon and the B4070. That old route is now being transformed for non-motorized users, signaling a significant change for local travel.
Currently, motorists can use this new two-mile segment of the A417 as a temporary measure—an early glimpse of what will eventually form a fully upgraded, permanent route. Planning to avoid the morning rush, I set out from Cirencester around midday, hoping for a smooth drive and a chance to experience the road at a comfortable pace.
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Unfortunately, the reality was quite different. It took about 45 minutes to cover just two miles—from Climperwell Road crossing the A417 up to the Air Balloon roundabout. National Highways had warned of congestion, and those warnings proved accurate. Traffic crawled, with long queues and significant frustration on all sides.
One major bottleneck occurred where two lanes merged into one, causing stubborn drivers to block merging vehicles and further exacerbate the tailbacks. Online, fellow drivers shared similar experiences: one reported spending 1 hour and 35 minutes to cover four miles during the morning, while another admitted to giving up entirely after an hour of gridlock.
Despite the slow start, the new Missing Link road shows real promise for the future. The section around the Shab Hill junction already feels like it could offer a more enjoyable driving experience once traffic flows freely, with higher speed limits and improved efficiency.
The route is clearly marked and easy to navigate—perhaps helped by following the line of cars through the congestion. Driving alongside ongoing construction, with diggers and road crews still working at the edges, added an unusual and temporary vibe to the journey.
National Highways states that this traffic arrangement will remain for at least five weeks, during which there will be further closures on both the A417 and A436. Until the full upgrades are complete next year, drivers should plan for extra travel time whenever they use this route.
For now, while patience is required, the new A417 Missing Link offers a glimpse of smoother journeys ahead—and a hopeful end to one of the region’s most notorious bottlenecks.