Diversions will be in place tonight on the M5 as a section closes from 9pm for essential repair work. Drivers have been warned to plan their journeys and allow extra time to travel.
The stretch of the motorway closing, which is in South Gloucestershire and Gloucesteshire, will be shut off to drivers on Saturday night (July 2) to enable a new footbridge to be installed at Michaelwood Services as part of a £3.2million revamp.
The installation was due to take place under an overnight closure last Saturday but was postponed due to complications with the galvanising process for the steel bridge span. The closure will now be in place between 9pm on Saturday, July 2 and 7am on Sunday, July 3. There will be further work to fit ramps and stairs programmed under overnight southbound and northbound carriageway closures between July 17 and 20.
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The 40-year-old footbridge spanning the southbound and northbound areas of the services was closed to pedestrians in 2018 and dismantled in early 2020 as part of a National Highways project. Preparatory work has been ongoing since February as part of a £3.2 million replacement project, and the new footbridge will enable access between the southbound and northbound areas of the services.
National Highways Project Manager, Adrian Simon, said: “Due to circumstances out of our control, the bridge span wasn’t ready in time for last Saturday’s proposed installation due to galvanising quality issues within the steelwork.
“We’re pleased we’ve been able to reschedule so quickly, we appreciate roadworks are frustrating but we are carrying out this essential work under a number of overnight closures to minimise disruption and we thank all drivers in advance for their co-operation and patience.”
A 230-tonne crane will be used to slot the new 61-metre footbridge deck into place and during the work meaning the M5 will be fully closed in both directions between Junction 13 (Stroud) and Junction 14 (Thornbury). Clearly signed diversions will be in place via the A419 and A38 Bristol Road, and drivers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys while this essential work is carried out.
Drivers are advised to check the @HighwaysSWEST Twitter feed or phone the National Highways Information Line on 0300 123 5000. They can also use the website: www.trafficengland.com
And for more details on National Highways’ work in the South West go to https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/south-west/
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