A SCHEME to improve the A417 Missing Link has received a boost from the government.

Highways England ran a consultation in March this year after looking at a number of different routes to solve congestion on the road, which saw option 30 chose as their preferred solution.

Now Highways England have said that the project has become a 'Tier 1' scheme, which means that the Department for Transport and the Treasury in Whitehall are now directly involved with the governance and oversight of the scheme.

It is said that this will help ensure the project is carefully balanced and will result in all potential benefits realised.

Councillor Lynden Stowe, cabinet member for economy, skills and growth said: “I’m delighted to hear that the A417 ‘Missing Link’ has now been promoted to a ‘Tier 1’ scheme which will mean that central government will be able to use their considerable resources to support Highways England with their work.

The county council will continue to push for a solution to the A417 ‘Missing Link’ to be built as we see it as a vital part of our county’s future infrastructure.”

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, Lib Dem group leader at Gloucestershire County Council added: “We all want an urgent solution to the triple problems of gridlock, accidents and pollution at the Air Balloon.

"That’s why Gloucestershire Lib Dems came out in support of Highways England’s preferred ‘Option 30’ to get the blackspot sorted out.

“Despite this latest news about fixing the Missing Link being spun, the timetable for building the new road continues to slip.

"The latest announcement from national roads bosses says that construction now won’t start until the end of 2021 ‘subject to statutory procedures’.

“For the thousands of motorists stuck at Birdlip every day we say let’s just get this fixed as quickly as possible. No more slippages please!”

More than 34,000 vehicles use the road a day, known for having long delays, it is a key link between the West Midlands and London,

Finding a solution is a priority for the county council, with nearly 7,000 people and businesses previously pledging their support for an improvement scheme, which is being delivered by Highways England.