Fears of traffic chaos as two huge roads due to close

Busy Gloucester roads are due to face overnight closures for resurfacing next week sparking fears of impending traffic chaos. A total resurface along Hucclecote Road and Barnwood Road is planned to take place from February 14 until March 26.

Gloucestershire highways says they will work at night to minimise the disruption and sections of the road will be temporarily closed, starting at Hucclecote. The closures are planned for around 36 nights, excluding Sundays.

But residents fear the closures will mean traffic being diverted via Chosen Way, Colwell Avenue and Zoons Road which will cause much disruption to residents. “We find it completely unacceptable especially as this will include 27 heavy buses going through,” one resident said.

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“Also access is needed to many businesses which are a supermarket, two pubs, five takeaways, a community centre and convenience store. It should be done with temporary traffic lights and to those who say it will cause too much chaos.

“It need not. Much of the traffic is going to and from Brockworth and could easily use the Barnwood/Hucclecote Bypass.

“When various utility companies have worked on the road which has resulted in resurfacing, temporary lights have been in place so it can be done. It might be convenient for the contractors but not for us residents who will be affected by noise and sleep disruption.”

The bulk of the works are planned to take place in six sections

The project was given the green light and is being paid for in part from a highways work funding pot allocated to each county councillor. In this case, Cllr David Brown (LD, Barnwood and Hucclecote) said: “People have been contacting me to inform me of their frustrations at the state of our roads.

The road closure can be seen highlighted in red while the official diversion is marked with blue lines (Image: GCC)

“There are potholes everywhere and I have never seen our roads in a worse state. This job on the Hucclecote and Barnwood Road should last for years and give everyone much needed relief.”

There will be short-term disruption but local councillors hope residents will consider it worthwhile. Gloucestershire County Council has been approached for comment.