Work to safely repair and reopen the road linking the A40 with the A429 near Northleach will take place next month.

The road at this site near Northleach known as 'Prison Copse Wall or the 'old A40'' has been closed for two years after the wall collapsed in spring 2017 and cracking appeared on the carriageway. Highways engineers have been working to establish the exact cause of the damage and design the best repair solution. Fixing these types of road faults can be complicated and take considerable time to fix.

From 4 March to 27 March our highways crews will carry out road repairs including reconstructing the carriageway, drainage work, fencing, lining and new signage. Once the repairs have been completed, the county council will continue to monitor the condition of the road and surrounding area to make sure the road remains safe. An extension of the 30mph speed limit will be imposed and a short length of carriageway will be limited to a single lane with passing bays.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways and flood, said: "The Prison Copse road linking the A40 and A429 near Northleach had to be closed. Safety has to be our number one priority, so a full road closure had to remain in place to protect the public. I understand that the road closure has caused inconvenience to local residents, therefore I'm pleased these safety improvements are taking place and I would like to thank local residents and road users for their ongoing patience."

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, local county councillor for Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach, said: "I've campaigned hard on behalf of residents to get this road re-opened. I know how important the route is for local residents and visitors alike, therefore I'm delighted our highways crews are now able to carry out the essential repairs to allow this popular route to link villages and Northleach together again."