Members of the public will be able to have their say on the latest design of the A417 Missing Link scheme.

A decision on a plan to improve the notorious blackspot on the A417, which links the M5 and the M4, reached a major milestone last week after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps allowed the project to move into public consultation.

Earlier this year Highways England chose a preferred route for a new 3.4 mile dual carriageway which will cost £435million, known as Option 30.

Option 30 initially set out the new road would have a 70mph speed limit and short road connecting Birdlip to the A417.

Road crossings for pedestrians and cyclists would be included and the Air Balloon and Cowley roundabouts would be removed.

The A417 runs between Gloucester, Cirencester and Swindon and is used by many motorists travelling between London and the West Midlands as a shortcut between the M4 and the M5.

Following consultation, Highways England would then move to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) planning application.

The existing road bottlenecks at the Air Balloon roundabout near Birdlip, and has been described as “perennial cause of congestion, air pollution and serious accidents” by Gloucestershire County Council.

Details of how the new proposals will look will be made available on September 27 and this will be followed by a number of consultations:

Monday, September 30, 2-8pm, Gloucester Rugby Club, Kingsholm Road

Thursday, October 3, 2-7pm, National Star College, Ullenwood

Saturday, October 5, 11am-6pm, Witcombe and Bentham Village Hall, Pillcroft Road, Witcombe

Monday, October 7, 11am-6pm, St Andrew’s Church Hall, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham

Wednesday, October 9, 2-7pm, Birdlip Church

Friday, October 11, 11am-6pm, Cirencester Town Council, Bingham House, Dyer Street

Tuesday, October 15, 2-8pm, Churchdown Community Association, Parton Road, Churchdown,

Highways England is asking the public to submit feedback responses by 11.59pm on Friday, November 8.