Overview
- National Highways will switch vehicles onto a newly built A417 section from Friday 2 February, marking the first use of the upgraded route.
- Full closures in both directions run 9pm Fri 16 Jan to 6am Mon 19 Jan and 9pm Fri 30 Jan to 6am Mon 2 Feb for drainage and central-reservation works.
- A southbound overnight closure between the Air Balloon roundabout and the Highwayman Inn runs 9pm Thu 15 Jan to 6am Fri 16 Jan, with northbound traffic unaffected.
- Signed diversions route drivers via the A46, A40, London Road, A435 and A436 during closure periods.
- The scheme delivers four miles of new dual carriageway with a new Shab Hill junction and a revised Cowley junction, repurposing parts of the old A417 for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, as further switches, use of the Shab Valley Interchange, structure completions and large-scale planting progress through 2026, with traffic on additional sections expected as early as spring.