THERE are so many bizarre and wonderful names for roads, junctions and roundabouts - but have you ever wondered where they get their name from?
Among the bizarre names for roads is one in particular on the outskirts of Worcestershire, used by many drivers between Gloucester and Swindon.
The A417 Missing Link is a nickname for the notorious single-carriageway bottleneck between the Brockworth bypass and Cowley roundabout in Gloucestershire, near the Air Balloon pub.
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The three-mile stretch of road forms part of the route between Gloucester and Swindon and an alternative to the M5/M4 route via Bristol.
It has been known to cause frequent congestion and poor visibility leading to crashes.
But some work by National Highways to improve the A417 Missing Link has recently reopened, leading some to question where it gets its name from.
Where does the A417 Missing Link carriageway name come from?
It’s called the A417 “Missing Link” because this short section near Birdlip is the only part of the wider A417/A419 route that wasn’t upgraded to dual carriageway.
It has meant that it is a 'missing' piece in an otherwise continuous high‑standard link between the M4 and M5.
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National Highways adopted that working title in its business case and planning documents, and it’s now the formal name for an upgrade project that is currently underway.
What is National Highways plan for the A417's Missing Link?
National Highways is now part‑way through a £460m project to remove that gap by building a new dual‑carriageway alignment and re‑working key junctions.
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It includes:
- A new Shab Hill junction linking the A417 to the A436 towards Oxford and into Birdlip.
- A new junction near Cowley to replace Cowley roundabout.
- “Offline” sections of road south and east of the current Air Balloon roundabout, taking through‑traffic away from the steep, congested existing line.
- Repurposing parts of the old A417 as routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, with some sections retained for local access only
- 3.4 miles (around 5.5km) of new dual carriageway, connecting the existing Brockworth bypass to the dual‑carriageway section south of Cowley.
Construction began in early 2023 after the scheme secured its Development Consent Order in late 2022.
In summer 2026, the first significant section of new carriageway opened to traffic near Ullenwood, and it is set to be completed fully in spring 2027.
At this point, the “Missing Link” will cease to be a gap and become part of a continuous dual‑carriageway route between Gloucester and the M4.
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