M5 roadworks and contraflow for next nine months from …
Drivers on the M5 motorway from South Gloucestershire, through Bristol and into Somerset are being warned to prepare for the next phase of a major bridge refurbishment, which could mean they are delayed or have to take a detour.
The huge project will mean roadworks, contraflows, some overnight closures and long detours from tomorrow, Monday, October 2, right through to the summer of 2024.
The bridges on the M5 as it goes through South Gloucestershire[1] and Bristol are now more than 50 years old and National Highways said they are in need of refurbishment. Work to waterproof, surface, install new expansion joints and repairs to the concrete are now required on bridges at two junctions on the M5, and work to inspect and survey the bridges at another junction in North Somerset[2] will also be starting this week.
There will be a contraflow system between junction 14 - the turn off for Charfield and Thornbury[5] in South Gloucestershire - and junction 17, the exit and entry for Cribbs Causeway in Bristol. This will allow the bridges at junctions 15 and 16, the Almondsbury interchange with the M4 and the one nearby to the south for Patchway, to be worked on.
This work will start on Monday, October 2, and straight away, there will be overnight closures of the M5 between junctions 14 and 17, from 8pm to 6am, from Monday evening. Later this week, from Wednesday, October 4 through to Saturday, October 7, the M5 between those two junctions will be closed from 9pm to 6am.
Then, on Sunday evening, October 8, the M5 will be closed again, but only southbound this time, between junctions 14 and 17, which will allow workers to finish installing the contraflow system for the next nine months.
Meanwhile, further south in North Somerset, the northbound entry slip road which takes drivers from Portishead[6] and Gordano onto the M5 heading over the Avonmouth[7] Bridge at junction 19, will be closed overnight on Monday evening, from 10pm to 6am on Tuesday morning to allow for survey works - drivers are recommended to head south to junction 20 for Clevedon and come back north on the M5 again.
“We appreciate roadworks can be frustrating, but we need to carry out this work to ensure the long-term integrity of the bridges and that they are fit for the future,” said the senior project manager for National Highways, Keith Warren.
“We know this is a busy area, and there’s never a good time to carry out roadworks. We’re delivering these improvements at the same time as the ongoing M4/M5 safety enhancements so we can share resources and cut down on the time we’ll be working on the road. Please accept our apologies in advance for any disruption which may be caused. We’ll make every effort to ensure the impact is kept to a minimum,” he added.
“Traffic management will be in place on the M5 between junctions 14 and 17 to summer 2024. We always aim to work to the programme, however, unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather[8] conditions may mean work is sometimes postponed,” he said.
References
- ^ South Gloucestershire (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ North Somerset (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Miles of roads will close if Bristol underground doesn't go ahead, council warns (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Bristol's airport 'Clean Air Zone trap' signs need 'improving' say council (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Thornbury (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Portishead (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Avonmouth (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ weather (www.bristolpost.co.uk)