TRAFFIC arrangements around the A40 Over bridge repairs are being reviewed weekly as motorists face delays between the Forest of Dean and Gloucester.

National Highways said it was looking at ways to ease congestion while the nine-month repair project continued, with the dual carriageway reduced to one lane in each direction.

Queues have built up during peak periods, particularly for traffic heading into Gloucester in the morning and returning towards the Forest in the evening.

Businesses and commuters have voiced frustration about the disruption, while Forest of Dean MP Matt Bishop has raised concerns about the impact of the works.

Terry Robinson, National Highways’ South West engineering lead, said the traffic management arrangements were being examined on a weekly basis and would be changed if it was safe to do so.

“We don’t like holding people up,” he said.

The latest phase of the scheme has begun, with teams carrying out repairs to the underside of the bridge. Mr Robinson said the activity visible to passing drivers represented only “the tip of the iceberg”, with work taking place both above and below the structure.

Engineers are removing damaged concrete, but only limited sections can be broken out at one time because the process temporarily reduces the strength of the bridge.

Inspections have shown that a waterproofing layer designed to protect the structure has come away, leaving metal reinforcement exposed. National Highways said the discovery demonstrated why the repairs were essential.

Mr Robinson described the project as labour intensive and said drilling through concrete around metal reinforcement created significant noise.

He said this meant crews could not work around the clock because overnight drilling would be unfair to nearby residents.

The repair programme is expected to continue until March 2027, with further traffic restrictions and phased closures planned as work progresses.