?15m to be spent upgrading five M5 bridges in Somerset

Up to £15m will be spent in the next 12 months upgrading and repairing five key bridges on the M5 in Somerset.

National Highways (formerly known as Highways England) announced on Wednesday (August 9) that it would be committing £103m towards around 75 road maintenance and renewal projects across the south west ^[1].The agency - which is responsible for maintaining England's motorways and major A-roads - confirmed that some of this money would be allocated towards "refurbishing structures" on the M5 at junction 24 (Bridgwater ^[2] South) and junction 25 (Taunton ^[3]).

Officials have now confirmed that five motorway bridges will be repaired and resurfaced under the scheme, with the work being carried out in stages between now and April 2024. A spokesman said: "We’re carrying out a bridge refurbishment scheme including five structures at Bathpool Canal, Bathpool Railway, River Tone and the Blackbrook Interchange North and South.

"The scheme will cost in the region of £15m and is due to be delivered within this financial year. The work will involve the removal and replacement of bridge deck expansion joints, waterproofing and resurfacing."

The Blackbrook interchange refers to the two bridges which make up junction 25 - which was recently upgraded to the tune of £19m ^[5] by Somerset County Council ^[6] (with contributions from National Highways). The River Tone bridge lies immediately to the north-east, crossing the eponymous river near the Hankridge Farm business park.

The Bathpool railway bridge lies to the north of this, next to Taunton Rugby Football Club and the Hyde Lane rat run into Taunton. The Bathpool canal bridge crosses the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal near the outskirts of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension ^[8] and a planned development of 28 homes on the edge of Creech St. Michael ^[9].

Richard Holden MP, minister for roads, said: "Over the next year, the south west will see more than £100m for maintaining, repairing and improving its roads. This substantial investment will ensure communities from Cornwall to Wiltshire ^[10] are better connected, as we grow the economy, and drivers enjoy safe and reliable journeys."

The schemes will be carried out concurrently with the ongoing upgrade of the A303 between the Podimore and Sparkford roundabouts ^[11], which is due to be completed in the spring of 2024. Jason Hones, National Highways' south west regional director, said: "It’s vital that our motorways and A-roads are kept in good condition to make sure they remain safe, reliable and keep the south west moving.

"This investment will help us achieve the ambitious plans we have for our roads, the communities we serve and the environment. Hundreds of thousands of drivers use our roads every day for work journeys, home deliveries and the movement of goods and services, so it’s essential we continue to deliver the essential maintenance and upgrades throughout the region to keep them in a good condition to ensure safety and reliability."

In addition to improving these Somerset ^[12] bridges, National Highways will be refurbishing the decks of junction 15 (Almondsbury interchange) and junction 16 (Almondsbury roundabout) in Bristol, upgrading lighting on the M5 and A303 ^[13] to LED units, and retaining walls on the A36 at Dundas, near Bath ^[14]. On top of this road investment, around £5.5m will be spent across the south west on environmental and biodiversity projects and facilities for cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians.

References

^{^} committing £103m towards around 75 road maintenance and renewal projects across the south west (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} Bridgwater (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} Taunton (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} Homes evacuated as Highbridge business goes up in flames (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} recently upgraded to the tune of £19m (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} Somerset County Council (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} here (bit.ly)
^{^} the outskirts of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} a planned development of 28 homes on the edge of Creech St. Michael (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} Wiltshire (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} the ongoing upgrade of the A303 between the Podimore and Sparkford roundabouts (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} Somerset (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} A303 (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
^{^} Bath (www.somersetlive.co.uk)