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Drivers will benefit from more reliable journey times in Gloucester during the busiest periods, as a major upgrade to the Elmbridge Court roundabout is given the go-ahead today, 28 July 2016.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is providing more than 拢9 million towards the scheme which is designed to reduce congestion at one of Gloucestershire鈥檚 busiest junctions, improve safety, and improve public transport links between Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Providing funding to boost local business and help deliver better journeys for road users is a key part of the government鈥檚 long-term economic plan.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said:

We are delivering better journeys for people across Gloucester. This much-needed work will help cut congestion and deliver a boost to business, create jobs and improve the local economy.

It will also help connections between Gloucester and Cheltenham.

The scheme will see the construction of a new straight on lane through the roundabout 鈥� a so-called 鈥渉amburger鈥� arrangement. A section of the A40 will be widened to provide a separate bus lane running parallel to the existing westbound carriageway.

Funding is being provided to the council through the government鈥檚 Local Growth Fund to improve the road networks in the area.

This scheme follows the 2014 upgrades to the adjacent Wall鈥檚 and 鈥楥&G鈥� roundabouts, for which the DfT provided 拢2.19 million through Local Pinch Point funding, that have already significantly cut journey times for drivers.

Works are scheduled to start shortly with completion scheduled for August 2017.

The total cost of the full scheme is 拢14.512 million, with the department providing 拢9.07 million.