In recent weeks, beams for the Gloucestershire Way Crossing have arrived onsite, and more will be transported here in April for Stockwell and Cowley. The latest beams arrived on site on the 10 March via the A417 and were escorted by Gloucestershire police. 

The two weekend closures of the A417 went well with work progressing between the A46 Brockworth junction and the Air Balloon roundabout. The teams worked in extreme weather conditions on occasions and many thanks to our communities for their patience while these closures were in place.   

Speed limit change 

You may have noticed that we have a temporary variable speed limit in both directions on the A417 between the A46 junction and Air Balloon roundabout. This is to enable critical work to proceed at this location. Please familiarise yourself with the variable speed limits using the map below. Enforcement of these speed limits is carried out by the police using automatic number plate recognition cameras; driver information is not shared with the A417 project.  

The A436 will be closed between the Air Balloon roundabout and the Seven Springs roundabout over the following weekend. This is so that we can carry out road surfacing activities. 

• 9pm on Friday 28 March to 6am on Monday 31 March 

During these closures: 

• Access to the Country Park will be available via the diversion route. 

• The Air Balloon roundabout will continue to be open for all traffic on the A417 

Fully signposted diversion routes will be in place during the closure. Please follow the official diversion route and not satnavs: 

Visit our webpage for full diversion routes.  

Customer Hub welcomes first visitors  

Last month, we opened the doors to our new Customer Hub, which is located at the crusher compound at Shab Hill. We’ve already welcomed dozens of visitors so please do come and say hello if you’d like to meet the team or have a question about the A417 scheme.   

The centre will be open every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am until 2pm. You can visit us any time during these hours, without pre-booking an appointment. Members of our team will be on hand to tell you more about the scheme and answer any questions that you may have.  

Our address is A417 Project Office, Birdlip, Gloucester, GL4 8JX. Directions on our webpage.  

You can also use What3words: ///shaped.quietest.payback 

Site restrictions must be adhered to, which is 10mph. Please Reverse Park. 

We are also starting our very successful site visits again in June for members of the public.  If you are interested in the scheme and want to visit to hear more, please contact A417MissingLink@nationalhighways.co.uk 

Meet the Team... Women in Contruction Week  

To mark Women in Construction Week earlier this month, we reached out to members of our team to ask a few questions about their roles, including why they chose to work in the construction industry, what they enjoy most about it, what the challenges are, and what advice they'd give to other young women considering a career in construction.  

Here’s what they said.  

Kate Parsons, Section Engineer 

I studied Civil Engineering at university and enjoyed learning about how things are built. I then spent a summer working on Crossrail and decided that working in construction was what I wanted to do. 

I enjoy the variety of work and how every project you work on is different. No two days are the same! I love seeing the project take shape and the project progressing. 

As a woman in the construction industry, it can be challenging to see how few women are in leadership roles and the lack of female role models. 

I would tell others who are considering a career in construction to go for it! There are so many different career paths available within construction and the opportunity to work on different types of projects. It provides the opportunity to be part of building the infrastructure that our society is dependent on. 

Kathleen McCool, Trainee Civil Engineer

I was always interested in the built environment throughout school and engineering from family members therefore, decided to study architecture at university. I found the technical side more interesting however, so looked for a degree apprenticeship in civil engineering.  

I enjoy the vast number of opportunities there are with a variety of interesting projects that make a lasting impact on the public. As a female in this industry, some challenges are the ratio of men to women is still very low with not many women in technical senior roles to look up too. 

Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone; ask questions, learn from experienced colleagues, and always keep building your skills and working relationships with people. 

Kat Gurney, Site Engineer 

I am a structural site engineer working on the A417 Missing Link project in Gloucestershire. My role is focused on the Gloucestershire Way Crossing bridge, where I oversee the construction process, ensuring the work meets design specifications, quality standards, and safety regulations. 

I’ve always had an interest in how things are built and the engineering behind major infrastructure. I studied civil engineering at university, and after graduating, I knew I wanted to work in a hands-on role where I could see real-world results. Construction stood out because it’s fast-paced, challenging, and rewarding. 

The best part of working in construction is seeing a project take shape—going from drawings to something physical that will be used for decades. Every day on-site is different, and I enjoy the problem-solving, teamwork, and hands-on experience that comes with the job. 

Construction is still male-dominated, so you sometimes you have to work harder to prove yourself—but once you show your capability, you earn respect quickly. The long hours and fast-paced nature of site work require resilience and good time management. Unexpected challenges, like design changes or weather delays, mean adaptability is key. But overcoming these challenges is part of what makes the job so rewarding. 

Construction is rewarding, and we need more women in site and engineering roles. Be confident, speak up, and trust your abilities - you don’t have to prove yourself more than anyone else. Ask questions, learn from experienced colleagues, and find a mentor through your company or ICE. Embrace the challenges - every tough day teaches you something, and seeing your work come to life makes it all worth it.