Work to start on final phase of cycleway – road closures announced
Construction work on the final phase of the A435 Cycleway route to connect Bishop’s Cleeve with Cheltenham is due to begin in May and a drop-in event is taking place for those interested in finding out more.
The scheme will deliver cycling and walking improvements along the A435 Evesham Road. It will provide full access to the 26-mile Gloucestershire Cycle Spine which will run between Bishop’s Cleeve, Cheltenham and Gloucester and will ultimately extend as far as Stroud.
In addition, as part of the final phase of the scheme, essential repairs will be carried out on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) bridge to address defects that were highlighted in a recent inspection, to ensure its long-term stability. The works include strengthening the structure, reconstructing the carriageway, and repositioning the road to incorporate a new shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists.
Gloucestershire County Council said that by coordinating multiple activities such as the bridge repair and strengthening as well as two phases of the cycleway construction during the closure, the work will be done more efficiently and disruption to the community overall can be minimised. The full road closure also provides the required working space, will prevent damage to the structure of the bridge and protects the safety of construction workers and the public.
Section 1 of the cycle scheme, between the Honeybourne Line and Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout, was successfully completed at the end of 2024. The first phase of Section 2, between the GWSR Bridge and the GE roundabout in Bishop’s Cleeve, began in early January 2025, is progressing well and is expected to finish in autumn 2025.
Contractors Montel Civil Engineering Ltd have been awarded the contract to build the final section of the A435 Cycleway, from Cheltenham Racecourse Roundabout to the GWSR bridge, and to undertake the essential bridge repairs at the same time.
Work is due to start on Monday 19 May 2025, and is expected to be finished by the end of January 2026.
With a contractor now in place, the programme and dates for the A435 road closure between Cheltenham Racecourse Roundabout and the Hyde Lane / Southam Lane junction have been finalised. The road closures for bridge repairs and cycleway construction will now be as follows:
Full road closure in both directions: from 2 June to 8 September 2025
Northbound closure only (with southbound open): from 8 September to 31 October 2025
During the full road closure and northbound closure periods, clearly signed diversion routes will be in place to guide road users safely around the works. Road users are advised to plan their journeys in advance and follow the diversion signs carefully.
Ahead of the closure, a meet the contractor event will be held on Thursday 8 May 2025 between 10am and 7pm at Cheltenham Tigers Rugby Club in Southam Lane, Southam, Cheltenham GL52 3PE.
This will provide an opportunity to learn more about the construction work, meet the project teams and ask any questions related to construction activities.
