A BUSY main road will be closed overnight for eight days for resurfacing on a mile-long stretch.

Minsterworth Road on the A48 near Westbury-on-Severn will be repaired from its junction with the A40 down to Watery Lane between Monday, September 4 and Wednesday, September 13.

The road, which is part of the main route from the A40 south to Westbury and Lydney, will be closed from 7pm to 7am, excluding the weekend.

Cllr Vernon Smith (Con Tewkesbury), Gloucestershire’s County Council’s Cabinet member for highways, said: “We are continuing to invest in our local roads and keeping our county moving.

“By carrying out these works at night we will keep disruption to a minimum. While the official diversion is via A-roads and suitable for heavy vehicles, we expect local traffic will find its own alternative routes.”

The road closures extend further south than the area due to be resurfaced in order to safely manage through traffic.

There will be a temporary closure south of Westbury-on-Severn clearly signed ‘For access only to Westbury-on-Severn, Chaxhill and Minsterworth’.

Planned diversions begin from the A48 junction with the A40 though Huntley and Nailbridge along the A4136 to re-join the A48 south of Westbury-on-Severn and vice versa.

Diversions will only be in place while the road is closed for work from 7pm to 7am. All routes will be fully signed and variable message signs are already in place to prepare drivers for the works.

Cllr Phil Awford (Con, Highnam) added: “Whilst there will inevitably be some disruption locally at night time we have sought to limit it as much as possible.

“Local residents will know how vital this work is and value the improvement when it is completed.”