Engineers with a head for heights are undertaking specialist slope engineering works on National Highways’ A417 Missing Link scheme, one of the most complex highway infrastructure projects currently under construction in the South West. The programme is creating a free-flowing 3.5-mile dual carriageway between the Brockworth bypass and Cowley roundabout, addressing a long-standing transport bottleneck while integrating infrastructure with sensitive landscapes.
The A417 route runs across the Cotswolds escarpment, an area defined by Jurassic limestone geology and recognised as having one of the highest inland concentrations of landslides in the UK. For National Highways and principal contractor Kier, managing geological risk has been a central challenge in delivering a safe, resilient road corridor.
To accommodate the new alignment, engineers excavated two deep limestone cuttings measuring up to 50 metres wide and 19 metres high across a half-mile section of the scheme. Following excavation, specialist teams from GT Jones have been deployed to stabilise the exposed rock faces using rope-access techniques typically associated with industrial climbing and confined-access engineering.
Working under strict safety controls, dentition engineers are scaling the escarpment to remove loose material, address fissures, and repair voids within the rock mass. This controlled descaling and remediation process reduces the risk of future rockfall while creating a stable, durable finish aligned with long-term asset management requirements.
The slope stabilisation work also supports the scheme’s wider landscape-led design approach. By exposing clean limestone faces and minimising the need for visually intrusive structures, the new road is being embedded into the escarpment rather than imposed upon it. At Crickley Hill, false embankments will screen the carriageway from view, allowing the geology of the Cotswolds to remain visible and legible within the landscape.
Importance highlighted
Celine Acard, Senior Project Manager at National Highways, highlighted the importance of this specialist activity. “It’s amazing, specialised work and another example of the many unseen facets of work going into construction of the new dual carriageway,” she said. “Our work on this vital scheme goes beyond simply building a new road, but also helping to preserve and enhance the landscape, and we’re really proud of all the engineering, environmental and ecological work being carried out as part of this project.”
From a digital construction and infrastructure delivery perspective, the A417 Missing Link demonstrates how specialist subcontractors integrate with major highways programmes to manage geotechnical risk effectively. Rope-access slope engineering requires detailed planning, accurate geological assessment, and close coordination with earthworks and structures teams to maintain programme certainty and safety compliance.
Ed Jones, Commercial Manager at GT Jones, explained the technical demands of the works. “We’re proud to support the A417 Missing Link dentition works which requires specialist personnel, IRATA rope-access capability, and equipment designed for operating safely on steep and unstable rock faces,” he said. “We’ve built strong experience in rock stabilisation, fissure remediation, and slope-engineering projects, and we’re applying that expertise directly here on the A417.”
Beyond construction, National Highways is continuing a significant programme of environmental mitigation. More than 17,000 trees have already been planted, alongside new hedgerows, woodland, and grassland creation. A five-year maintenance period will follow completion to ensure long-term establishment and sustainability.
Construction of an underbridge at the top of the escarpment will enable a traffic switch early next year, with drivers expected to travel on a section of the new A417 in early 2026.
Together, engineering innovation, environmental stewardship, and specialist delivery are ensuring the A417 Missing Link provides resilient transport infrastructure while protecting the Cotswolds landscape for future generations nationwide. In the meantime, the site will shut down for the holiday period, from 19 December to 5 January. To find out more about the A417 Missing Link scheme, and for the latest updates, visit https://nationalhighways.co.uk//a417-missing-link/
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