The Bruton Way entrance to Gloucester Railway Station is set to be closed for up to twelve weeks as improvements are made to make the access safer for pedestrians.

Gloucestershire County Council said that the closure from Monday, May 9 will allow for the improvement works to take place.

It is hoped pedestrian access to the station from the city centre will become safer and easier to use with footpaths being widened at the Bruton Way junction.

More emphasis will be placed on greener, more sustainable ways of traveling to the station, such as walking, with these upgrades.

Further improvements will include a better road crossing across George Street, updated signals at the pelican crossing at Bruton Way junction, and facilities to help guide visually impaired users towards the station.

This work is also said to enable further improvement works to take place at the station, including to the underpass from Great Western Road.

Pedestrians will be able to use the Bruton Way entrance throughout the duration of the works.

Diversions will be in place to allow drivers to access the station from the newly opened entrance from Metz Way, or entrance on Great Western Road.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "Improvement works at the Bruton Way junction are the next step in the railway station project, and will deliver safer access for pedestrians.

"The upgrades carried out in this phase of the project will make the station more accessible to sustainable methods of travel, as part of our pledge to create a Greener Gloucestershire."

Cllr Richard Cook, leader of Gloucester City Council, said: "The Bruton Way works are a really important part of the railway station project.

"It will it create better link between the station and the city centre by improving access to those visiting the station. It will also enable work to improve the underpass to Great Western Road to take place."

David Owen, CEO of GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "We are excited to see the next phase of the Gloucester Station improvement project get under way. This is a technically challenging project and has taken a long time to get to this stage but it is very pleasing to see real progress now being made.

"We appreciate that there might be some short term inconvenience for station users but these improvements will be hugely beneficial once complete"

Chris Rule, GWR station manager for Gloucester, said: "I would l thank customers in advance for their patience while the next phase of this important improvement work is carried out.

"Working together we have been able build on the previous investment and pave the way for further improvements. This would not have happened without the combined efforts of local government, national government, the rail industry and the local enterprise partnership.

"This is a perfect example of how working collaboratively can support the communities we serve to thrive."

Daniel Collins, Network Rail senior sponsor, said: "We are proud to be continuing to helping Gloucestershire County Council, Great Western Railway and other key partners on the next phase of this scheme and helping develop and deliver the future plans for the station to deliver passenger benefit and put passengers first."

Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester, said: "It's good news that the next phase of improving our Railway Station is about to start, with on the forecourt and Bruton Way entrance. But it does also mean the entrance will be closed for twelve weeks, and so please could all travellers in vehicles use the new entrance off Metz Way or the back entrance off Great Western Way.

"However well we communicate I know this news won't reach everyone before their journey and I'm sorry for any inconvenience. Meanwhile pedestrians will still be able to walk to the station and use the underpass to the hospital and Great Western Road exactly as usual."