A417 Missing Link campaign!

[Richardf]

Any other solutions/ways Air Balloon could be grade separated and keep the A417 as the mainline? When the mainline turns a corner at an at grade junction, i have never worked out satisfactory ways to grade separate them.

You just make the mainline turn the corner. To maintain NSL it needs a lot of space as with the loop option.

What would be the best way to maintain the other connections in this situation then. OK bypass the roundabout for the through route but the other routes at the roundabout need to connect as well.

[jackal]

For the loop there there would be a pair of north-facing slips just south of Air Balloon; access from the south would be via a new dumbbell at Birdlip and the old road.

http://a417missinglink.co.uk/omap1r.png
http://a417missinglink.co.uk/omap2r.png

This is a particularly challenging site due to the vertical alignment and the fact the road turns at an especially tight angle. For a more normal situation one solution is a pair of Y-interchanges feeding into an at-grade junction, e.g.:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@44.26496 ... 462231,16z

Or you can just put in a dumbbell etc.

[A303Chris]

Obviously since the first studies have been completed, Hindhead has been bypassed by a tunnel and Stonehenge will be.

Given the environmental reasons why tunnels were chosen on both these routes which have lower AADT's then the Air Ballon, you can see why the tunnel option is now been raised as a viable option.

[A303Chris]

I am thinking this would then future proof the area so that the A436 could be improved as a southern bypass for Cheltenham, (Becoming the A40 in the process).

I thought it was a bypass as Oxford - Gloucester traffic as well as that to and from the M5 is signed that way. Needs improving though

[Richardf]

I am thinking this would then future proof the area so that the A436 could be improved as a southern bypass for Cheltenham, (Becoming the A40 in the process).

I thought it was a bypass as Oxford - Gloucester traffic as well as that to and from the M5 is signed that way. Needs improving though

If it was improved to a good standard then perhaps the A40 could be rerouted that way to J11a M5 and it would take more traffic out of Cheltenham centre. The A417 would multiplex with the A40 from Air Balloon into Gloucester, or perhaps A417 could be rerouted through Cheltenham to J11 M5 (current A46/A40 route perhaps?).

[roadtester]

I am thinking this would then future proof the area so that the A436 could be improved as a southern bypass for Cheltenham, (Becoming the A40 in the process).

I thought it was a bypass as Oxford - Gloucester traffic as well as that to and from the M5 is signed that way. Needs improving though

On the map, the A436 looks like a really obvious southern bypass for Cheltenham but when you drive it, it's clear how limited it is. I think trying to improve the A436 might cause more fuss with the locals than fixing Air Balloon. The road is old and winding and the surroundings are posh and leafy. Banging a modern road of any sort, let alone a dual carriageway, through there would be difficult.

[Berk]

Does anyone know why the content is missing from its page on the HE projects website?? I think I may e-mail and ask why...

[wrinkly]

An subtle joke. The scheme is called "A417 missing link" so when you try to follow a link to the page, it's missing.

Or could just be they've not yet got round to creating the page.

[Berk]

An subtle joke. The scheme is called "A417 missing link" so when you try to follow a link to the page, it's missing.

Or could just be they've not yet got round to creating the page.

Perhaps, but they are suggesting it’s been ‘recently updated’...

[Bryn666]

I can't go into detail due to commercial confidentiality but I know of people who are working on route options for this. That's all I can say.

[Berk]

I can't go into detail due to commercial confidentiality but I know of people who are working on route options for this. That's all I can say.

Sure. But why can’t previously cleared information be released?? The M54/M6T Page hadn’t been updated for 6 years, until quite recently.

Quite apart from the fact it looks absurd with having a 404 page. It’s not 2002, you know...

[jackal]

Or could just be they've not yet got round to creating the page.

The page was already there. I think it broke on Thursday along with several other HE pages (including the overall list of schemes: http://roads.highways.gov.uk/regions/all-regions/), presumably because they were updated to account for the revised HE schedule.

[jackal]

The link is live again, not that there's much worth seeing there.

[roadtester]

Alex Chalk, the Conservative MP for Cheltenham has just asked Theresa May in Prime Minister's Questions to back the A417 Air Balloon scheme (consultation about to start, apparently), which she did - although there didn't appear to be any new information in their exchange.

[mikehindsonevans]

Alex Chalk, the Conservative MP for Cheltenham has just asked Theresa May in Prime Minister's Questions to back the A417 Air Balloon scheme (consultation about to start, apparently), which she did - although there didn't appear to be any new information in their exchange.

Yes, the PM's answer was good to watch. I always make time for PMQs - best free entertainment on the TV every (almost) Wednesday. And I agree, the sooner the traffic is moved further away from our favourite mid-journey break point, the better.
Mike

[A9NWIL]

I am thinking this would then future proof the area so that the A436 could be improved as a southern bypass for Cheltenham, (Becoming the A40 in the process).

I thought it was a bypass as Oxford - Gloucester traffic as well as that to and from the M5 is signed that way. Needs improving though

As a good M5 link being fully grade separated will help, but I think it needs widening in some places like round Swindon, with east facing free flow links to the M4 at Junction 15.

Edit there is improvements planned for M4 J15: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tran ... s-and-jobs
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j ... KSogGAwKn3
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j ... m3jptcgmRb

I couldnt find any plans though, just a description which seems to say widening of southbound carriageway near the junction and a dedicated left turn, along with widening of the motorway off slip roads and A346 approach.

[wrinkly]

Air Balloon consultation starts Feb 17th:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/shar ... ssing-link

http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/a ... sing-link/

[Berk]

At last!! Some real (rather than sketchy) plans may be emerging.

I’ve always been a bit frustrated that since the RIS (and RIS 2 even) was released, the detail about some schemes has been frustratingly vague.

The M6(T)/M54 Link was another one - until those plans came out.

[BaggieBoy]

Air Balloon consultation starts Feb 17th

I got quite excited, then realised it didn't say construction...

[SJobson]

Consultation started today in fact. Both of the route options in the consultation involve demolition of the Air Balloon pub, and the tunnel options have been omitted entirely. Looking at the options which made it to the previous stage, the tunnel options had the same economic value rating as the looping Option 12 but Option 12 was sent to consultation over any of them. It says something that a tunnel was under consideration right up to that stage.

https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.co ... sing-link/