Shire Hall looks set to move up a gear on its plans to redesign the M5's junction 9 for Tewkesbury and Evesham.

But if councillors give the plan a green light, the job is going to be far from cheap: a cabinet document seen by Punchline-Gloucester.com indicates that development of the plan alone is going to cost an estimated £3.9m.

At a meeting scheduled for May 15, councillors will dig into the details (and check their calculators) for options of how to crack traffic headaches around the busy commuter junction, with reconfiguration seeing a re-route of the A46 around Ashchurch to the Teddington Hands Roundabout.

If the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme proposal is put up for public review, the new route should provide a more suitable alternative route for traffic, particularly long-distance heavy goods vehicles, while also improving journey times and reliability, the council says.

It would also reduce traffic, noise and pollution for local residents and businesses and deliver other long-term environmental benefits by providing the opportunity for increased walking, cycling and public transport options, the council says.

In addition, the scheme would also support economic growth for the region by providing a suitable route for long distance traffic between the south-west and Midlands and enabling the road network to operate more efficiently.

A spokesman added: "The scheme would reduce queuing back to the M5 from the existing Junction 9 roundabout, which is currently a safety concern."

The Mass Rapid Transit Transport Scheme is part of the council's ambition to improve connectivity within, to and from central Gloucestershire. The aim of the scheme is to encourage a step-change in travel behaviour in Gloucestershire. In turn, this aims to reduce congestion, support sustainable growth and decarbonise the transport system.

The report for May 15 asks for the approval of several recommendations in relation to both schemes.

These include:

● Procuring professional services to continue development work on the delivery of the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Scheme Strategic Outline Business Case (SOC) and Outline Business Case (OBC).

● Undertaking a non-statutory public consultation, when appropriate, on proposed scheme options for the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Scheme, in order to identify a preferred option which will then be included in the OBC.

● Approving and submitting the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Scheme SOC and OBC to the Department for Transport (DfT) once complete.

● Procuring professional services to continue development work on the Mass Rapid Transit Transport Scheme SOC and OBC.

Cllr David Gray, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, said: "The A46 is one of the country's most important trade routes and a strategic link between the south-west and the Midlands. We know that more than half of the traffic using the existing A46 through Ashchurch during peak periods is long-distance through-traffic. Our proposals would provide an alternative, more suitable route for these vehicles."

He added that it would also improve traffic flow and air quality while delivering substantial economic benefits and enabling development opportunities locally and regionally.

● Subject to successful Strategic Outline Case (SOC) approval, funding for this scheme will be provided by the Department for Transport and the county council for its Outline Business Case (OBC) development and identification of a preferred route. Beyond that, it is currently proposed that, subject to an approved OBC and funding from the Department for Transport being in place, National Highways will take the scheme on to complete the Preferred Route Announcement and be responsible for detailed design and construction of the scheme.