Next stage of works to begin on A435 Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve Cycleway

The next phase of improvements for the A435 Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve Cycleway will begin in May, bringing essential upgrades to support safer and more sustainable travel.  

The scheme will deliver significant cycling and walking enhancements along the A435 Evesham Road. It will provide full access to the 26-mile Gloucestershire Cycle Spine which will run between Bishop’s Cleeve, Cheltenham and Gloucester and will ultimately extend as far as Stroud. 

Section 1 of the scheme, between the Honeybourne Line and Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout, was successfully completed at the end of 2024. The first phase of Section 2, between the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) Bridge and the GE roundabout in Bishop’s Cleeve, began in early January 2025 and is expected to finish in autumn 2025.  

Work will begin in May on the second phase of Section 2, between Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout and the GWSR Bridge. This will include two sets of road closures on the A435 Evesham Road between Cheltenham and Bishop’s Cleeve, which are necessary for the successful and safe completion of the project. When finished, this phase will join both sections together and complete the scheme. 

The road closures on the A435 Evesham Road will be as follows: 

• Full road closure in both directions: From 19 May to 22 August 2025, the A435 Evesham Road will be fully closed in both directions between the Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout and the Hyde Lane/Southam Lane junction. This full closure will allow the road over the bridge to be re-aligned to the west side of the bridge, in order to accommodate a two-way road and a new shared use cycleway and footway with protection buffer zone. Bridge strengthening work is also being carried out as part of the changes. The full closure provides the required working space, will prevent damage to the structure of the bridge and protects the safety of construction workers and the public.
• Northbound road closure: From 23 August to 17 October 2025, a northbound road closure (from Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve) will be in place on A435 Evesham Road between Cheltenham Racecourse roundabout and the Hyde Lane/Southam Lane junction. During this period, northbound traffic will be diverted and only southbound traffic between Bishop’s Cleeve and Cheltenham will be allowed through. The northbound road closure is to enable construction works on the east side of the road, throughout the section between the racecourse roundabout and Hyde Lane/Southam Lane junction, to be carried out. It is required to facilitate multiple sets of works to be delivered concurrently and safely, avoiding the need for multiple sets of traffic lights and reducing the duration of the overall construction programme. During the closure, access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained in both directions. 

During the full road closure and northbound closure periods, clearly signed diversion routes will be in place to guide road users safely around the works. Road users are advised to plan their journeys in advance and follow the diversion signs carefully.   

Access to the garden centre and properties to the north of the GWSR Bridge on the A435 Evesham Road will remain in place from the north via the Hyde Lane/Southam Lane junction during the full road closure in both directions and the northbound road closure. Bus services will still operate between Cheltenham and Bishop’s Cleeve in both directions during the road closures via local diversion routes. 

The Phase 2 Section 2 works are being carried out concurrently with the previous phases of work on the A435 Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve Cycleway. This will ensure the entire project progresses efficiently and minimises the duration of disruptions for the public. It also avoids extending the overall project timeline and incurring additional costs. To reduce the overall impact on the community, the closures have also been scheduled to avoid major race meets at Cheltenham in March and November 2025, as well as the Christmas period. 

Cllr David Gray, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, said: “Once complete, the scheme will significantly improve the infrastructure for active travel in the region and support the growth of sustainable travel options as part of our commitment to a Greener Gloucestershire. The closures are essential in enabling us to safely and successfully progress the cycleway. 

“We recognise the impact these temporary closures will have on road users and would like to thank them in advance for their patience and understanding during this important stage of works.” 

The A435 Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve Cycleway forms part of the Gloucestershire Cycle Spine, an ambitious project to create a 26-mile cycling and walking corridor extending across the county from Stroud in the south to Bishop's Cleeve in the north. Once completed, it will be the longest new facility of its type in the country. The scheme will contribute to a significant cycling and walking network across Gloucestershire, improving quality and connectivity.  

Gloucestershire County Council has secured in the order of £19.6million of funding from Active Travel England, S106 contributions, Department for Transport contributions, Gloucestershire County Council Funding and Community Infrastructure Levy Funding for the A435 Cheltenham to Bishops Cleeve Cycle Route, which will allow all three phases of the scheme to be delivered. Works are expected to be completed by early 2026.   

Further details of construction activities and traffic management will be shared at a meet the contractor event in May. More information about the scheme can be found at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/highways/a435cycleway