Gloucestershire County Council in the UK has announced the commencement of the next phase of improvements for the A435 Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve Cycleway for this May.
This project is expected to deliver significant upgrades to support safer and more sustainable travel options along the A435 Evesham Road.
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The A435 Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve Cycleway project is a component of the Gloucestershire Cycle Spine, which aims to establish a 26-mile cycling and walking corridor that stretches across the county.
Upon completion, the spine is stated to become the longest of its kind in the country.
The first section of the scheme, between the Honeybourne Line and Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout, was finished at the end of last year.
The initial phase of Section 2 commenced in early January 2025, focusing on the stretch between the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway Bridge (GWSR) and the GE roundabout in Bishop’s Cleeve, with an expected completion in late 2025.
The upcoming work in May marks the second phase of Section 2, connecting the Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout to the GWSR Bridge, which includes road closures for the project’s execution.
The planned road closures on the A435 Evesham Road will involve a full closure in both directions from 19 May to 22 August 2025, between the Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout and the Hyde Lane/Southam Lane junction.
This closure is required to realign the road and construct a new shared-use cycleway and footway with a protective buffer zone.
Gloucestershire County Council has secured approximately £19.6m ($25.3m) in funding from various sources, including Active Travel England, S106 contributions, the UK’s Department for Transport, Gloucestershire County Council, and Community Infrastructure Levy Funding.
The project is expected to be fully completed by early 2026.
Gloucestershire County Council environment and planning cabinet member and councillor David Gray said: “Once complete, the scheme will significantly improve the infrastructure for active travel in the region and support the growth of sustainable travel options as part of our commitment to a Greener Gloucestershire. The closures are essential in enabling us to safely and successfully progress the cycleway.”
Earlier this month, the UK government approved an upgrade to National Highways’ M3 junction 9 in South Hampshire, England.
