National Highways is reminding drivers that essential maintenance on the A40 at Over is set to begin next week.
The Over Bridge carries the dual carriageway of the A40 across the River Severn at Over, near Gloucester, with 5,000 vehicles an hour using the structure during peak times.
The road will be closed overnight on Monday June 29th (8pm-6am) between the Over roundabout and Highnam roundabout for the installation of traffic management, with traffic diverted via the A417, A449 and A40.
From Tuesday 30th June, lane 2 will be closed in both directions to enable works to the central barrier and the eventual installation of a contraflow later in the summer.
The dedicated slip road from the A417 Over Causeway to the A40 Westbound will remain closed for the duration of the works.
Caption: National Highways is investing £7m into the A40 at Over, with works starting on Monday 29th June
Terry Robinson, South West Engineering Lead for National Highways, said: “Many of the motorways and major A roads we manage were built around 60 years ago and need renewing to ensure they remain fit for purpose for generations to come.
“The A40 at Over is now in need of significant work, which is vital to keep drivers safe and the route running into the future.
“We’re expecting this work to cause delays in the area during this complex scheme and we’re advising users to plan their journeys and use alternative routes where possible, especially during peak hours.”
Having been built in the 1970s, the £7m investment will extend the life of the bridge and reduce the risk of unplanned closures for emergency maintenance work in the future, delivering a more resilient and more reliable route for local communities, businesses and freight.
From June 2026 to March 2027, National Highways will be carrying out repairs and maintenance work on the bridge including repairs to the concrete, new waterproofing, better drainage and other improvements.
The dual carriageway is a key part of the road network connecting Gloucester, Cheltenham and Ross on Wye and the A40 connects England and Wales.
The main works will see a mixture of lane closures, contraflows and a reduced speed limit of 30mph for the safety of motorists and workers.
There will also be some overnight closures with a clearly marked diversion route. This ensures the vital route can remain open for the majority the works whilst ensuring the safety of users and workers.
Traffic management will be phased to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum:
- June to March 2027 – Total closure A417 Over Causeway to A40 Westbound Slip Road
- June to July 2026 – Lane 2 closures in both directions
- July to October 2026 – Eastbound carriageway closure with single lane contraflow on the westbound carriageway
- October 2026 to January 2027 – Westbound carriageway closure with single lane contraflow on the eastbound carriageway
- January to February 2027 – Lane 2 closures in both directions
- February to March 2027 – Removal of all traffic management
Caption: From July to October 2026 there will be an eastbound carriageway closure with single lane contraflow on the westbound carriageway
Caption: From October 2026 to February 2027 there will be a westbound carriageway closure with single lane contraflow on the eastbound carriageway
CCTV monitoring and a free recovery service will be provided for the duration of the works, and temporary traffic lights at Over Roundabout could be introduced if necessary to improve traffic flow.
Access for residents and businesses will be maintained throughout the project. However, right turn movements will be temporarily restricted, requiring short diversions via the A40 Highnam and A40 Over roundabouts.
The eastbound bus lane will remain in operation up to Horseshoe Drive, where it will merge into the temporary road layout.
Caption: The A417, A449 and A40 diversion route for overnight closures
The latest information on the scheme is available at National Highways’ A40 web page.
