I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Tewkesbury (Mr Robertson) for introducing the debate on the proposed changes to the A46 in his constituency, and welcome the opportunity to discuss this important road project involving the A46 and proposals being developed for it. The proposals are led by Gloucestershire County Council with National Highways advising extensively due to the scheme's impact on the strategic road network and M5. I have looked into specific concerns regarding the grey route and confirmed that the Department for Transport will consider removing or changing this route if desired by the council, which is crucial given planned large-scale developments in Tewkesbury. The A46 faces congestion challenges between the Teddington Hands roundabout and junction 9 of the M5 with journey time reliability issues. Gloucestershire County Council submitted a strategic outline business case for the scheme in September 2022, which is currently undergoing rigorous assessment by my Department to ensure value for money and alignment with national strategies. I am willing to meet further with my hon. Friend's officials to consider other options if the council is open to it. The process involves considering various route options before deciding on a preferred scheme and seeking Treasury approval for construction, expected in RIS4 timescales.