A £460m contract to design and build an upgrade to the A417 between Gloucester and Swindon has been awarded to Kier, by National Highways.
The plans are to dual the current single-lane carriageway on the A417 between the Brockworth bypass and Cowley roundabout in Gloucestershire. Also a new junction at Shab Hill which will provide a link from the A417 to the A436 towards Oxford and into Birdlip. A further junction will be created near Cowley to replace the Cowley roundabout.
Kier secured this contract following a keen procurement process through National Highways regional delivery partnership framework. They also completed a budget setting process with National Highways.
The Planning Inspectorate is examining the application as the project still requires development consent. Following this and after examination in May the Planning Inspectorate are expected to foward its recommendations to the secretary of state for transport, who are then expected to make a formal decision in the autumn.
Michael Goddard, National Highway project director said: “Kier have a comprehensive track record of working with National Highways and delivering large scale infrastructure projects so we are confident they will deliver the scheme that meets our landscape-led vision. We will endeavour to deliver a project that is agreeable with the special character of the Cotswolds area of outstanding beauty and which will also support economic growth, improve traffic flows at peak times, therefore making our roads safer”.
Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, Councillor Mark Hawthorne went on to say that he was really pleased to reach this key stage of the project. It feels as though the solution for the ‘missing-link’ is now much more of a reality.
“Completion of this project will bring improved safety, better air quality and more reliable journey times”.