MAJOR roadworks on the Gloucester Road near Ledbury, from its junction with the M50 motorway, means diversions will be in place for six days, starting this week.

The improvement work will see 475 tonnes of new material put down to create a smoother road surface on the Gloucester Road, the A417, from junction 2 at the M50 to Oak Drive Lodge. That stretch is also known as the Ledbury Road, close to Bromsberrow.

The work is scheduled to take place from Thursday September 29 and is set be completed by Wednesday October 5.

A Gloucester County Council spokesman said: "It will be necessary to close the road to traffic each week day from 7:30am until 5.30pm at the M50 junction 2 up to Oak Drive Lodge. Outside of these hours, and at the weekend, the road will be open as usual.

"A diversion will be in place via Ledbury following the A449 to Ross on Wye then the A40 towards Gloucester before turning back onto the A417 towards Ledbury. Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles."

The spokesman added: "Special arrangements have been made for school buses. Where possible they will be allowed through the work, otherwise they will be given a local diversion."

Cllr Vernon Smith, Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and flood said, "I'd like to thank local people, and regular users of this stretch of the A417, for their patience while we carry out these improvements. I'm sure everyone will be pleased with the new road surface once the work is complete."

The stretch to be resurfaced is a little over 200 metres long.

Gloucestershire county councillor, Will Windsor Clive said, “Local people and regular road users will really notice the difference along this stretch of the A417 when the work is done at the end of the month.”