A40 Over Bridge refurbishment

How we'll work

To work safely we'll need a combination of:

• lane closures
• full closures
• reducing traffic to one lane in each direction with a contraflow and 30mph speed limit in place

We've timed our work to avoid:

• Cheltenham Festival
• exam periods for university students in the area

We're expecting this work to cause significant delays in the area and advise drivers to plan their journeys in advance.

Drivers are advised to use alternative routes where possible, especially during peak travel times.

To learn more, read A40 Over Bridge Deck refurbishment works frequently asked questions.

Planned closures

8 June 2026 to March 2027 - slip road linking A417 Over Causeway to A40 westbound 

Closed 24/7 for the duration of the scheme.

If you're travelling from the A417 onto the A40 westbound, you'll need to join by the roundabout.

29 June - A40 in both directions between Over roundabout and Highnam roundabout

Closed overnight (8pm - 6am).

Signed diversion by A417, A449 and A40.

30 June to July 2026 - A40 Over Bridge in both directions between Over roundabout and Over Farm

One lane closed.

20, 21  and 27 July - A40 in both directions between Over roundabout and Highnam roundabout

Closed overnight (8pm – 6am) each night.

Signed diversion by A417, A449 and A40.

July to October 2026 - A40 eastbound carriageway between Over Farm and Over roundabout.

Closed.

• eastbound drivers will use a contraflow on the westbound side of the bridge 
• one lane of traffic running in each direction with a 30mph speed limit

8 October - A40 in both directions between Over roundabout and Highnam roundabout

Closed overnight (8pm – 6am).

Signed diversion by A417, A449 and A40.

October 2026 to January 2027 - A40 westbound carriageway between Over roundabout and Over Farm.

Closed.

• westbound drivers will  use a contraflow on the eastbound side of the bridge
• one lane of traffic running in each direction with a 30mph speed limit

4 January 2027 - A40 in both directions between Over roundabout and Highnam roundabout

Closed overnight (8pm – 6am).

Signed diversion by A417, A449 and A40.

January to February 2027 - A40 Over Bridge in both directions between Over roundabout and Over Farm

One lane closed.

February to March 2027 - A40 Over Bridge

There'll be an overnight full closure of the A40 Overbridge to complete works.

We'll share the exact date closer to the time.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England website. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

Diversions

Drivers travelling westbound will not be able to turn right into Over Farm, Toby Carvery or Horseshoe Drive and will have to divert to the Highnam roundabout to turn around. 

Whilst disruptive, the contraflow allows us to complete this complex work while maintaining traffic flow and keeping workers safe and help us stay on track to meet our project completion date in spring 2027.

Some full overnight closures of the A40 will be required during the works.

During the full closures a signed diversion will be in place via the:

•  A417 to Ledbury
• A449 to Ross on Wye
• and rejoin the A40 for westbound traffic

The diversion is the reverse for eastbound traffic. Please follow the signed diversion routes and not satnavs.

A40 Over Bridge diversion route map.

The footpath and cycleway will remain open for the duration of the works.  

There will be local diversions for pedestrians and cyclists over the bridge depending on what phase of the works is being undertaken and these will be managed locally by the team on site.  

Cyclists will need to dismount in one area beneath the bridge, due to low headroom.

Access across the bridge will be maintained for the duration of the works.

The footway on the A417 slip road will remain open, with safety fencing in place to keep pedestrians and cyclists separate from the work area.

Background

Over Bridge carries the A40 over the River Severn at Over in Gloucester. The dual carriageway is a key part of the road network with 5,000 vehicles an hour crossing the bridge at peak times. It connects Gloucester, Cheltenham and Ross on Wye and the A40 connects England and Wales.

This work will extend the life of the bridge and reduce the risk of unplanned closures for emergency maintenance work in the future. The scheme will deliver a more resilient, safer and more reliable route for local communities, businesses and freight.

Work will include:

• repairs to concrete
• renewing the waterproofing
• improving drainage 
• resurfacing 
• new bridge joints
• upgraded street lighting
• new barriers
• new signage