Turning the single-carriageway section of Worcester’s southern ring road into a four-lane highway is something that should be approved, according to a new report to county councillors.

The report to members of the Worcestershire County Council’s planning committee from the authority’s development manager recommends they give consent to a scheme to widen the often-clogged road between Powick and Ketch roundabouts.

Though given that the applicant to County hall is the county council itself, the fact that the recommendation by the council’s development manager is for approval is hardly a surprise.

The report says the southern ring road “provides a vital link between the M5, the wider strategic road network, south and west of Worcester” and towns west of the city.

The plans would see upgrades and improvements to two roundabouts and also an entirely new bridge constructed over the River Severn parallel to the existing Carrington Bridge.

The report says: "The proposed new bridge would have three spans rather than six to minimise construction works within the floodplain."

If built the new bridge will carry traffic heading west towards Malvern and the western side of the city, while the existing bridge will, in time, be dedicated to traffic heading east, towards the M5.

A pedestrian and cycle underpass will be integrated into the structure of the Carrington Bridge.

The plan is supported in principle by Worcester City Council, Malvern Hills District Council and St Peter’s Parish Council within the city.

The report says if approved work would start in March 2019 and take about two years

The decision whether to approve the scheme will be taken at the Planning and Regulatory Committee meeting at County Hall at 10am on Tuesday 27 March.