ONE of the main roads into Cirencester will be closed for up to nine weeks this summer as major roadworks transform the north eastern entrance of the town.

The A429 Burford Road between the A417 and the London Road roundabout will be off limits to those travelling into Cirencester from the north.

Heavy congestion is expected during the closure, which forms part of a larger project to improve the whole road network close to the new Kingshill housing development.

Initial work in the area is expected to start after next week’s Bank Holiday weekend on Tuesday, May 6.

Peter Finlayson, chairman of Swindon-based PFA Consulting Ltd, which is overseeing the project, said a fully-signed diversion will be in place, although no alternate route has yet been decided.

“The diversion is still being discussed but it won’t be needed until the end of July. There will be two months of work going on before we need to close Burford Road,” he said.

Mr Finlayson told the Standard that while the work is carried out, motorists should try and avoid the area if they can.

“The message we are sending out is that it will be a short term pain for a long term gain,” he said.

As part of the six-month-long scheme, the existing Y-shaped junction at London Road will be changed into a traffic light controlled T-junction while a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist crossing will also be installed.

The footpath along Burford Road will also be widened and a new toucan crossing at Grove Lane will allow people to cross the busy road with greater safety.

London Road residents living in the affected area will be able to access their homes through a new service road, that will also be used by delivery lorries.

Andrew Tubb, chief executive of Cirencester Town Council, said he was hopeful that the roadworks would not cause problem for the town’s summer events.

“Developers are usually quite quick to change schemes if there was to be an impact on the town,” he said.

“Hopefully, these works will not cause the town too much disruption.”

It is hoped that the new layout at London Road, which carries around 20,000 vehicles every day, will improve traffic flow during rush hours.

Motorists from further afield should also feel the benefit as the A429 is the primary road linking the M40 near Warwick with the M4 near Chippenham. Visit www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk for more information.