I READ with interest the article about doubling the A4440 in Worcester (December 13), as I use this route to/from the M5 regularly.

Its real problem is not so much the width but the lack of grade- separated junctions, especially at the Ketch and Whittington.

Tailbacks from the Ketch cause the worst snarls-up – back to Powick in the mornings and down from Whittington in the evenings.

But wouldn’t a much better solution be to build a new link road to Malvern from the M5 just south of Kerswell Green? This could cross the Severn south of Clevelode then divide into forks onto Guarlford Road and Sandy’s Road roundabout, having grade-separate junctions with just the A38, B4424 and Madresfield Road in between.

As such it would provide easy access to the M5 for both south and northbound traffic from Malvern. This would not only remove a good portion of today’s A4440 traffic but also relieve congestion significantly in Malvern Link, Powick and through Upton-upon-Severn.

Dualling the A4440 will not be straightfoward – the two bridges over Crookbarrow Way would presumably need rebuilding. So why not bite the bullet and build a road that offers much wider benefits?

ADRIAN PUTLEY Malvern