The M5 motorway will be completely closed for a weekend next month to allow the demolition of two deteriorating pedestrian bridges near Gloucester.
National Highways is set to commence work to remove and replace the Grove Court and Uphill Court bridges, both of which provide public rights of way over the M5 between junctions 11 and 12. These bridges have been serving pedestrians for the past 64 years but have reached a state of disrepair beyond renovation.
Due to safety concerns, the bridges were closed in March. Demolition is scheduled for the weekend of Friday 16 October to Monday 19 October, with the construction of new, modern-standard bridges to follow.
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Each of these 69-metre-long structures will be dismantled using high-reach excavators, removing approximately 440 tonnes of concrete and 14 tonnes of steel tendons from the carriageway. The motorway is planned to reopen for morning commuter traffic on Monday 19 October.
Ewan Greenhill, National Highways Route Manager, commented: “Like many of our motorways and structures, these bridges have exceeded their structural lifespan. Replacing them is essential to ensure the safety of all road users and to maintain the smooth movement of people and goods.
“Both bridges are public rights of way, and we are collaborating closely with Gloucestershire County Council and other partners on the replacement designs.
“We appreciate that the full weekend closure will impact travellers, and we thank everyone in advance for their patience. Our advice is for drivers to plan ahead, consider alternative routes, and allow extra time for their journeys.”
To facilitate the creation of a construction compound, the junction 11A northbound exit slip road will be closed for one week from Sunday 11 October, prior to the demolition weekend, and will remain closed for an additional week afterwards.
The full closure of the M5 between junction 11 (Cheltenham) and junction 12 (Gloucester) will be in effect from 11pm on Friday 16 October until 6am on Monday 19 October.
The weekend diversion routes have been carefully planned to minimise disruption and avoid clashes with simultaneous A40 bridge works at Over. The late start to the closure at 11pm on Friday also accommodates Gloucester Rugby’s European Champions Cup match against Bordeaux-Begles.
During the closure, both northbound and southbound traffic will be diverted via the A38 through Gloucester, the A40 between Cheltenham and Gloucester, and the A417.
Additionally, drivers are advised to be aware of ongoing works on the A417 related to the major Missing Link scheme, as well as bridge deck refurbishment between junctions 15 and 16 of the M5 near Bristol’s Almondsbury Interchange.
More detailed information on the closure, diversion routes, and related schemes can be found on the National Highways website and the dedicated scheme web page ahead of the October closure weekend.