Access tunnel planned for homeowner affected by new A417 road scheme

A tunnel is slated for construction to provide a homeowner with access to his residence, which would otherwise become inaccessible because of a significant new road development. Brian Garlick, who initially sought to sell his property to National Highways, resides adjacent to the A417 Missing Link construction site, a project underway between Gloucester and Cirencester. National Highways stated its inability to acquire the property and clarified that the underpass had consistently been part of the plans to facilitate access to two telephone masts and assist with local drainage. A spokesperson for National Highways indicated that the final design, which will incorporate vehicle access, is currently being advanced. The spokesperson further explained that although National Highways initially engaged in discussions regarding the purchase of Mr. Garlick’s property, it was subsequently determined that the residence is situated beyond the scheme’s boundary, thus presenting “no viable route to do so.” However, Mr. Garlick, who was born in the home his parents acquired in the 1950s, asserted that National Highways had extended an offer for the property before subsequently withdrawing it. This situation created a dilemma for both National Highways and Mr. Garlick regarding how he would maintain access to his house. He recounted that an initial proposal involved a driveway, but a tunnel was later deemed “a lot safer.” Mr. Garlick commented, “I did think it was a little bit over the top at the time… but after thinking about it thought it probably would be a good idea.” The £460 million road initiative is anticipated to alleviate traffic congestion along the single-carriageway bottleneck section near Birdlip. In addition to a three-mile (4.8km) dual carriageway connecting Gloucester and Cirencester, several “green bridges” are planned for construction to enhance local wildlife. The project’s completion is projected for 2027. Steve Foxley, the A417 Missing Link programme manager for National Highways, stated: “We had lengthy discussions with Mr Garlick ahead of construction regarding any disruption to him and agreed a way forward that worked for both parties.” He added, “We will continue to do our best to address any concerns and to minimise any impacts to the community and residents from our work on the scheme.”