A pensioner living near a major new road project will access his home through a ‘private’ tunnel – which could cost up to $7.5 million.
Brian Garlick has been forced out of his home along with the A417 Missing Link – a three-mile dual carriageway under construction between Gloucester and Cirencester.
But he says National Highways has withdrawn an offer of $940,000 to buy the property, so he will remain with it after the project is completed in 2027.
And he said he was shocked to hear that the safest way to access his home when the road eventually opens would be through a specially built tunnel – costing between $5 million and $7.5 million.
Without his build, Brian won’t be able to go anywhere.
He explained that the tunnel is planned to be a quarter of a mile from his home – but details of its dimensions have yet to be decided.
Brian, 69, who is currently living alone in a caravan park during the construction phase, must give 21 days’ notice to enter the home where he was born.
Garlick said: “At first I was a bit shocked (when they suggested a tunnel) and a bit over the top, but when you looked at it, there was no real alternative for them to do it.
“If they had paid me like they originally said, that would be it.”
Garlick said he had originally hoped to sell his mum and grandmother’s 1950s home on National Highways, but has now been told he was unable to buy it.
The authority said the underpass was always planned to allow access to two telephone poles and help with drainage in the area.
The spokesman added that while National Highways initially discussed buying the Garlick property, it was later confirmed that it lies outside the scheme boundary and therefore “there was no viable route to do so”.
But Garlick said an offer was made and later withdrawn.
He added: “The way they have handled everything has been absolutely diabolical.
“I live in a fifth-wheel caravan – and I had to buy it myself. The contractors are only paying for camping fees and petrol.
“I still have to pay council tax, electricity and all the household bills.
“I have never had an apology from the National Highway. They only came home in June and said time is up and we are not doing anything else. I haven’t heard anything from the National Highway since then.”
The $577 million project aims to reduce traffic congestion on the single-carriageway stretch that crosses Birdlip and is scheduled for completion in 2027.
Until then, Garlick lives alone in his caravan.
He said: “When it’s all over, the roads will be much better. The current tunnel will make it safer. I don’t know what the noise levels will be like. They say they won’t do any additional polishing until a year and a day after the road officially opens.
“You have to live with it for a year, and then if there’s noise here, we’ll have to wait a year.”
A417 Missing Link program manager for National Highways, Steve Foxley, said: “We had lengthy discussions with Garlick prior to construction about any disruptions to it and agreed a way forward that worked for both parties.
“We will continue to do our best to address any concerns and minimize any impact on the community and residents from our work on the scheme.”
National Highways said it would not be specific about the cost of individual elements of the scheme, but added that the underpass, which must meet design standards, would also provide access to telephone poles and emergency services.
The spokesman added; “There was always going to be an underpass and we are currently progressing the final design.”
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