These are the ambitious £435 million plans to transform a notorious bottleneck in Gloucestershire.

The proposal for the A417 will see the last stretch of three miles of single carriageway on the 31-mile A417/A419 route upgraded to a dual carriageway.

The A417 runs between Gloucester, Cirencester and Swindon and is used by many motorists travelling between London and the West Midlands as a shortcut between the M4 and the M5.

The existing stretch of road between Brockworth bypass and the Air Balloon roundabout will be lowered and would be accessed only by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and will connect to a new garden bridge overlooking Gloucestershire.

Both the Air Balloon roundabout and Cowley roundabout are to be removed as part of the scheme.

A new sloping lane will be introduced leading up the A417 for vehicles to overtake heavy good vehicles safely.

There will be improved access to public footpaths, including the Cotswold Way National Trail and the Gloucestershire Way.

Option 30 also sets out how the new road would have a 70mph speed limit and a short road connecting Birdlip to the A417.

Members of the public will be able to have their say on the detailed plans in a consultation which opens today, September 27, through seven public events.

Highways England announced the preferred route for the scheme, known as Option 30, in March and is expected to receive its budget from the Government by the end of the year.

The project is scheduled for completion for 2024.

The scheme is within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Highways England says it aims to complement the character of the surrounding landscape.

However, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust said the proposals “overlook some of the most threatened species in this landscape.”

Responding to the launch of the public consultation on the A417, Roger Mortlock, chief executive of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust: “Highways England has promised that the ‘missing link’ road scheme will be landscape-led, repairing historic damage to the landscape and the wildlife it supports.

“Despite positive engagement, the designs released today are insufficient to prove that it will. They also overlook some of the most threatened species in this landscape.

“We are facing a biodiversity emergency, so Highways England need to deliver the aspirations of the Government’s own 25 Year Environment Plan, which calls for ‘net gain’ for wildlife, leaving the environment in a better state than it is now.

“There is no information on how wildlife net gain will be achieved or how ecological networks will be protected.

“The proposed land bridge is welcome, but not wide enough to deliver connectivity for wildlife.

“And there are no assurances that sufficient budget will be allocated to ensure that commitments to protect and restore wildlife habitats are any more than lip-service.”

A Highways England representative said yesterday at a press briefing that the scheme is now in consultation process and “all feedback is welcome”.

Highways England Senior Project Manager Mike Goddard said: “We had overwhelming support for our preferred route, with almost three-quarters of respondents at the last consultation in favour of it.

“We hope that once again members of the public and community groups will take the time to share their views on this more detailed proposal.

“The upgrade will bring many benefits, including helping to boost growth and prosperity by making journeys more reliable and improving connectivity between the Midlands and the South West, and more predictable journey times; it will also improve safety for drivers and reduce air pollution from queuing traffic.

“The consultation we’re launching today is an important step before submitting a planning application, so we are keen to engage with people and particularly interested to hear views on how the scheme links with other roads and serves the needs of users of the route, local communities and businesses.”

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: “This key route helps people get to work, school, visit friends and family and we need to make sure it is safe.

“We are committed to making sure the community and all road users reap the benefits of any upgrade to the route – which will support the local economy, ease congestion and pollution and, of course, will factor in the area’s landscape, environment and history.

“I look forward to seeing the outcome of the consultation in due course.”

HOW YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SAY

Here’s how the public can explore the proposals and talk to members of Highways England:

Wednesday, October 9, from 2pm to 7pm

Birdlip Church, Birdlip, GL4 8JH

Friday, October 11, from 11am to 6pm

Cirencester Town Council, Bingham House, 1 Dyer Street, Cirencester, GL7 2PP