Closure of A436 near Air Balloon roundabout will see huge 11-mile diversion

A stretch of the A436 near the Air Balloon roundabout

A major stretch of A-road in Gloucestershire will be closed overnight as part of the A417 Missing Link project. The closure on part of the A436 runs from Wednesday, February 28 to Saturday, March 2 from 9pm to 6am.

The work between the Air Balloon roundabout and Ullenwood Manor Road is for National Highways to pull cables and remove an overhead power mast. An official diversion route will take people on an 11-mile route via the A417, A446, A40 and the A435 to Severn Springs roundabout.

National Highway has stressed that Crickley Hill Park and National Star College will be open as usual during the day. This is the latest closure linked to the Missing Link project.

As always, people may be aware of shorter diversion routes. But the official sign-posted diversion is for vehicles who will need a similar class of road.

Weather can impact the start and end date of the roadworks. People have been urged to take note of the closure and make any changes to their planned journeys that may be necessary.

The new £460m dual carriageway will bypass both the Air Balloon and Cowley roundabouts meaning motorists heading from the M5 junction at Brockworth through to the M4 at Swindon will have a journey uninterrupted by roundabouts – and it will all be dual carriageway. The new road is expected to open in spring 2027.

There are high hopes that the new dual carriageway section will improve journey times and safety on the A417 through Birdlip. Motorists are well used to long delays as the dual carriageway section from Cirencester turns into a single carriageway at Cowley and through Nettleton Bottom through to Birdlip.