A NEW aerial photo shows drivers using a brand new roundabout near Upton for the first time.

The new shot shows the roundabout, which is being built at the A38/A4104 junction near Upton-upon-Severn, being used for the first time by motorists.

After months of work, the new roundabout is finally in operation, allowing for a new route between Upton and Evesham.

It replaces the previous staggered crossroads.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, cabinet member for economy, infrastructure and skills, said: “Works have progressed really well and it’s great that we’ve now been able to switch the traffic over to travel along the routes of the new approaches and roundabout.

“Please be aware that there are still a lot of works taking place on this project, so various traffic management measures will be required until the completion of the works later this year.”

The roundabout is expected to make the notorious accident spot safer for motorists and improve journey times.

Work has so far focused on transferring thousands of tonnes of material onto the site, to create the base for the new roundabout and road alignment, as well as the installation of new drainage and kerbing.

The new roundabout, a multi-million pound scheme funded by Worcestershire County Council and the Department for Transport, is scheduled to be operational this autumn.

An Iron Age settlement dating from around 2,250 years ago was also uncovered on the site of the new roundabout.

The discovery was made during the planning phase of the improvements, first being spotted on aerial photos, and an initial investigation to find out more was carried out in late 2020.

It revealed pottery which indicated that the site was a Middle Iron Age settlement, with an unusually large ditched enclosure at its heart.

More information about the scheme can be found on the County Council website at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/uptonimprovements