PEOPLE who commute to Gloucester from Ross-on-Wye via the A40 Over roundabout can expect their travel time to double amid fears bridge repairs will cause nine months of ‘major disruption’.

The Over bridge, which carries the dual carriageway of the A40 across the River Severn, is a key part of the road network connecting Gloucester and Cheltenham with the Forest of Dean, Ross and Wales.

National Highways is set to invest £7m in essential maintenance for the bridge which was built in the 1970s and sees around 5,000 vehicles an hour during peak times.

This work, which includes repairs to the concrete, new waterproofing and better drainage, is expected to extend the life of the bridge and reduce the risk of unplanned closures for emergency maintenance work in the future.

However, traffic delays are expected during the works which are planned to begin next month and continue until March 2027.

Preparation works will begin on June 8 to install the site compound which will be located on the verge area between the dedicated slip road from the A417 Over Causeway to the A40 Westbound.

As a result, the slip road will be closed to traffic and will remain closed for the duration of the works.

The main works will commence on June 29 until March 2027, using a mixture of lane closures, contraflows and a reduced speed limit of 30mph for the safety of motorists and workers.

There will also be some unavoidable overnight closures with a clearly marked diversion route. This ensures the vital route can remain open throughout the works whilst ensuring the safety of users and workers.

CCTV monitoring and a free recovery service will be provided for the duration of the works, with temporary traffic lights at Over Roundabout have been considered to ensure traffic flow.