Motorists have expressed their fury over a £50 million motorway junction that still hasn't opened, despite being constructed nearly seven years ago. One lorry driver described the delayed opening of Junction 1 of the M49 in Gloucestershire as a "complete farce." The junction, completed in December 2019, has remained closed to drivers because of a missing 160-metre link road, which is finally expected to be finished this autumn.
Background of the Junction
National Highways began building the junction in 2018 to allow heavy goods vehicles to access the Western Approach Distribution Park, a major distribution site adjacent to the M49. However, delays in opening the junction arose due to a deadlock between landowners, South Gloucestershire Council, and National Highways over who was responsible for constructing the link road connecting the junction to the distribution park.
Impact on Drivers
The hold-up has forced lorry drivers to reroute along smaller roads, causing congestion and delivery delays. Trucker David Bradbury, 48, criticized the delays, telling The Telegraph: "It's a complete farce; absolutely mental. And it shows the state of planning in this country." Another trucker, Mark Rees, said the link road would be a "godsend." He added: "At the moment, I can have about an hour's detour when the traffic is bad. It is wasting loads of money each time I come," noting that queues can be "huge."
Responsibility and Delays
National Highways was responsible for the junction, while South Gloucestershire Council was tasked with working with the developer of the Western Approach Distribution Park on the link road. The main developer is reportedly Delta Properties, but some parts of the land are owned by other businesses. In 2021, South Gloucestershire Council stated that Delta Properties was responsible for the road—a claim the business rejected, arguing it had "no legal obligation" to construct it. Delta Properties declined to comment when approached by The Telegraph.
Current Status
A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: "Construction of the link road is underway on site and due to be completed by the end of 2026." A National Highways spokesperson added: "South Gloucestershire Council are building the link road after initial plans with developers fell through. We are fully supportive… and recognize the benefits that will bring to the local economy and communities."
