A key commuter route between Gloucestershire and South Wales will be affected by road closures and diversions whilst essential resurfacing takes place next month.

The popular A466 Redbrook to Bigsweir Bridge route is to undergo £200,000 of improvements.

The work will take eight days and is scheduled to start on Monday 5th February and finish on Wednesday 14th February. It will be carried out between the hours of 07:30am - 17:30pm on weekdays only.

A road closure will be in place from the south end of Redbrook Village for approximately 2.7 miles towards Bigsweir Bridge.

But for the safety of the public and work crews, the road closure will extend further north and south of the works area. Signs will be in place at the junction of the A4136 and the A466 for those approaching from the north. For those travelling from the south, signs will be in place at the roundabout with the B4293.

Access for local residents in the road closure area will be maintained as long as it is safe to do so.

Crews will lay 1,571 tonnes of material, which is the equivalent of about five Boeing 747 aircrafts in weight.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways and flood, said: "The A466 is a very important commuter route into Gloucestershire. Making sure our highways are in great condition helps keep the county moving. This work will mean a smooth and pothole free drive for residents, commuters, businesses and buses which rely on this route, and will help ensure the condition of the road in the future."

Cllr Patrick Molyneux, county councillor for Sedbury, said: "I'm really pleased that we are now able to include this important and heavily used stretch of road in the new resurfacing programme. The scheme will mean residents benefit from good driving conditions along this route into the future, so it's excellent news for the area. I'd like to thank road users for their patience while this work is carried out."

Diversion routes:

If approaching from the north, commuters should follow diversion along the A4136 (Staunton Road), pass Staunton village and continue on the A4136 towards the junction with the B4228.

Take the B4228 and follow the road through Coleford and Sling, and continue in direction to Trow Green, then take the B4231 (Bream Avenue and Bream Road) to Lydney. In Lydney continue south along the B4231 (High Street) towards the A48. Take the A48 to Chepstow. In Chepstow on the roundabout with the A466 take the fourth exit to the A466. The route is the same in reverse.

Diversion route for commuters in Wales

If approaching from the north, commuters should follow diversion along the A40 to the junction with the B4233 in direction to Trelleck. Take the exit and continue via B4233 to B4293. Follow the B4239 via Trelleck, Creigau, Devauden and Itton Common all the way to the roundabout with the A466. The route is the same in reverse.

Diversion route approaching from the M48 Severn Bridge

If approaching from the south (M48), commuters should take the A466 to Chepstow, follow diversion as signed along the A48 to Lydney, turn left onto B4231 Bream Road, follow through to its junction with the B4228 Trow Green, turn right onto the B4228 to Coleford. At the junction turn with the A4136 turn left onto the A4136. The route is the same in reverse.