M5 emergency repairs force closure overnight after defect discovered

Emergency repairs to a M5 bridge will force part of the motorway to close overnight, it has been confirmed. National Highways said a "defective bridge joint" has been detected along the road and has led to the work being required.

As a result of the repairs at junction 27 for Tiverton, Devon, the M5 will be shut between 9pm today (October 19) and 6am tomorrow. This means there will be no access to the junction near the border with Somerset, but diversions will be set up.

A statement from National Highways[1] said: "National Highways is advising drivers to plan in advance and allow a little extra time for their journeys ahead of emergency repairs being carried out at M5 junction 27 (Tiverton) tonight. A defective bridge joint on the northern side of the roundabout has been identified, which will require temporary repair work to prevent further deterioration under an overnight closure from 9pm to 6am.

"The closure will affect people’s journeys, with no access available to the A38 from the northbound junction 27 exit slip road. Traffic instead will be required to exit at junction 26, head southbound and access the A38 from the M5 southbound exit slip road. For A361 traffic wishing to join the A38 or travel southbound on the M5, the diversion will also be via junction 26."

It comes ahead of a four-night long M5 closure between Gordano and Weston-super-Mare[2] next week. The busy stretch of motorway will be closed overnight from 10pm to 6am on Monday (October 23), Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (October 26) for resurfacing works.

Both carriageways will be resurfaced and essential survey work will also take place to inform design work for a bridge refurbishment scheme programmed near junction 21 next year. Heather Lang, National Highways' head of scheme delivery for the South West, said: “We appreciate roadworks can be frustrating but we’re keeping the closures to an absolute minimum and when traffic flows will be at their lowest, and we’ve been liaising with Bristol City Council[3] to ensure CAZ exemptions along the diversion route.

“We need to employ the full overnight closures in order to carry out both pieces of work along this section, and we have communicated the work to businesses and local communities. We advise people to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys, and in the meantime we thank all drivers in advance for their co-operation and patience while we carry out these essential works.”

References

  1. ^ National Highways (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
  2. ^ four-night long M5 closure between Gordano and Weston-super-Mare (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
  3. ^ Bristol City Council (www.bristolpost.co.uk)

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