Cotswold Canals in Pictures

New A38 Road Bridges

During the construction of the Gloucestershire section of the M5 motorway, which opened in 1971, a large roundabout was built on the A38 at Whitminster to connect a new link road to the motorway at junction 13.

This work resulted in the demolition of the original A38 Bristol Road canal bridge and the nearby lock, along with a significant length of the canal heading eastwards being infilled (the 'Missing Mile').

In 2020 two new bridges were built on the roundabout, along with a channel between to re-instate the canal route across the A38. (The distance between the two bridges is about 100m.)  The work was carried out by Gloucestershire County Council (GCC).

A new 'Bristol Road' lock is to be constructed as part of the Phase 1b restoration programme close to the southern road bridge.

Walkers

If travelling eastwards towards Stonehouse, there is a need to take a diversionary route along the south bank of the River Frome to re-join the canal at Pike Bridge, Eastington. This uses the Thames & Severn Way footpath.

Once the Cotswold Canals Connected restoration programme has been completed in 2029 this diversion will no longer be required.

(Tap / click images to enlarge)

 

New A38 Road Bridges
A38 roundabout Whitminster, new canal channel and southern road bridge
New A38 Road Bridges
View of new canal channel between A38 roundabout bridges
New A38 Road Bridges
A38 roundabout Whitminster, new northern canal road bridge
New A38 Road Bridges
A38 roundabout northern bridge
New A38 Road Bridges
A38 roundabout, Whitminster during construction works
New A38 Road Bridges
A38 roundabout at Whitminster after completion of new bridge works.
[Robert Paget]
New A38 Road Bridges
A38 roundabout, Whitminster - where new channel will re-join existing canal

During Construction

New A38 Road Bridges
Construction of the northern canal bridge on the A38 roundabout

Before Restoration

New A38 Road Bridges
A38 roundabout, Whitminster - view before road bridge building works started.
[Ken Bailey]
New A38 Road Bridges
A38 roundabout, Whitminster - view before road bridge building works started