Lengthy M5 closures fury as Somerset MP demands action

A Somerset MP has demanded a debate in parliament over the length and frequency of closures on the M5. Motorists using the M5 in Somerset[1] have had to endure numerous lengthy closures and diversions over the last 12 months as a result of maintenance work and serious crashes - including one such incident on Sunday (March 23), where a woman in her 70s died after being hit by a lorry[2]. Sir Ashley Fox[3], the Conservative[4] MP for Bridgwater[5], has asked the government for a debate on the length of motorway closures, querying whether National Highways (which maintains England's motorways) is taking the correct approach.

National Highways (formerly known as Highways England) has responded that it works hard to ensure that closures (whether planned or in light of traffic incidents) are kept as short as humanly possible. The Bridgwater stretch of the M5 has seen significant disruption over the last year from both planned roadworks and a number of crashes, both of which have led to severe congestion on smaller local roads as motorists are diverted or attempt to avoid disruption. The long-running Dunball roundabout upgrade near junction 23[6], which will be completed by Christmas[7], has resulted in long queues along the A38 Bristol Road - with disruption being compounded by one-way systems or closures on the A39 Bath[8] Road to upgrade local infrastructure ahead of the GBP4bn 'gigafactory' being created at the Gravity enterprise zone[9].

The Somerset section of the M5 has also seen a number of crashes in the last 12 months which resulted in death or serious injury - including one in November 2024 where the motorway was closed for more than six hours[10] after a 17-year-old girl was hit by a lorry after getting out of a police vehicle. Mr Fox called for a debate on this issue while speaking in the House of Commons on March 20, arguing that the current approach was greatly disruptive to both residents and the town's struggling businesses.

He said: "The M5 motorway in Somerset is being closed ever more frequently and for longer durations. This causes great inconvenience to businesses and residents, occasionally gridlocking the town of Bridgwater.

"Can we have a debate in government time on the policy of National Highways for when and for how long it closes our motorways?" Lucy Powell MP, the leader of the House of Commons, responded: "I know how frustrating that kind of road closure can be on constituents and those travelling. "Poorly planned roadworks and highway agency plans can be devastating.

I will support him in raising these issues with ministers and hopefully in the House."

Following Mr Fox's comments, National Highways route manager Jonathan Hill has defended his agency's approach to both planned roadworks and emergency incidents. He said: "We plan all roadworks carefully with local authorities and always keeps disruption to a minimum by carrying out work, whenever possible, under overnight closures when traffic is at its lowest. "In terms of unplanned incident management, we work closely with emergency services and local authority partners and work hard to reopen our roads as soon as it is safe to do so.

The majority of impactful unplanned closures are as a result of police-led incidents, and we always ensures that we have everything in place to reopen the road as soon as is practicable once the scene is released to us. "On the M5 in Somerset, in fact, our data shows that we respond to and clear incidents more quickly than the rest of the south west region. We're aware of the impact any unplanned closures have on communities around the M5, and we will continue to engage with both emergency services and Somerset Council[11] to identify opportunities for improvement within this process.

"In the meantime we will keep stakeholders, including local MPs, fully appraised of our incident clearance processes."

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References

1. ^ Somerset (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
2. ^ one such incident on Sunday (March 23), where a woman in her 70s died after being hit by a lorry (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
3. ^ Sir Ashley Fox (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
4. ^ Conservative (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
5. ^ Bridgwater (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
6. ^ The long-running Dunball roundabout upgrade near junction 23 (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
7. ^ Christmas (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
8. ^ Bath (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
9. ^ upgrade local infrastructure ahead of the GBP4bn 'gigafactory' being created at the Gravity enterprise zone (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
10. ^ one in November 2024 where the motorway was closed for more than six hours (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
11. ^ Somerset Council (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
12. ^ Somerset Live (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
13. ^ click this link and select 'Join Community'. (chat.whatsapp.com)
14. ^ Somerset Live (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
15. ^ Privacy Notice. (www.reachplc.com)
16. ^ Click here to join our WhatsApp community. (chat.whatsapp.com)