A NEW major roundabout has finished construction after originally being expected to finish last year.

The four-arm roundabout, in Upton-upon-Severn, is said to have better routes and crossing access for pedestrians and cyclists.

The roundabout was constructed by Worcestershire County Council and replaces the previous A38/A4104 staggered junction.

The 18-month project was originally approved in February 2021 and was expected to be completed by Autumn 2022.

According to Worcestershire County Council, ecological elements were covered as part of planning and taken into consideration while the roundabout works were in progress.

New culverts under the road and gulley bypasses, as well as bat lighting, have been included as part of the work.

Cllr Marc Bayliss, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for economy, infrastructure and skills, said: “I’m delighted that the roundabout has been completed and vehicles are able to use it.

“Around 16,000 vehicles a day use this route, so this was an important project to help relieve congestion and improve journey times, whilst also improving provision for walking and cycling.”

The route will be important for commuters travelling from the M5/M50 motorways and provides access to destinations such as the Three Counties Showground and Malvern Hills.

It will also serve as a route for a number of events that are usually held within Upton-upon-Severn and the surrounding area throughout the year.

The previous junction was a congestion hotspot, particularly during peak times and during local events, with queues building up on both the A38 and A4104.

Worcestershire County Council identified that the junction required improvements to alleviate this problem and to provide more efficient traffic flows as well as providing a better junction for users.

Facilities for pedestrians and cyclists have also been improved with the provision of crossing locations on all arms of the roundabout and three-metre-wide shared pavements and cycleways.

In spring, the final landscaping works will take place and verges will have three different grass seeds sown across the banks.

The multi-million-pound scheme had to be halted briefly in December 2021 when an Iron-Age settlement was discovered under the site.

The site was first spotted on aerial photos and an initial investigation to find out more was carried out in late 2020.

It revealed pottery which indicated that the site was a Middle Iron Age settlement, with an unusually large ditched enclosure at its heart.