The M5 motorway will be completely closed over a weekend next month to allow for the demolition of two deteriorating pedestrian bridges near Gloucester.
National Highways has announced that work will begin next month to demolish and rebuild two public footbridges over the M5, located between junctions 11 and 12.
The Grove Court and Uphill Court bridges have served pedestrians for the past 64 years but have now deteriorated beyond repair and require replacement. Both bridges were closed for safety reasons in March.
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The demolition and replacement work will take place over the weekend of 16 to 19 October. Both bridges, each 69 metres long, will be dismantled using high-reach excavators. An estimated 440 tonnes of concrete and 14 tonnes of steel tendons will be removed from the carriageway during this time.
National Highways Route Manager Ewan Greenhill commented: “Like many of our motorways and structures, the bridges have exceeded their structural lifespan. Replacing them will ensure the safety of road users and enable the continued smooth movement of people and goods.”
He added, “Both bridges are public rights of way. We are working closely with Gloucestershire County Council and other partners to finalise the replacement plans. We recognise the weekend closure will impact travellers and thank everyone in advance for their patience. We advise drivers to plan ahead, consider alternative routes, and allow extra time for journeys.”
To establish a construction compound, the Junction 11A northbound exit slip road will be closed from Sunday 11 October for one week before the demolition weekend and will remain closed for one week afterwards.
The full M5 closure will be in effect from 11pm on Friday 16 October until 6am on Monday 19 October, between junctions 11 (Cheltenham) and 12 (Gloucester).
Diversion routes have been carefully planned to minimise disruption, avoiding conflict with ongoing A40 bridge works at Over. The later Friday closure time of 11pm has also been arranged to accommodate Gloucester Rugby’s European Champions Cup match against Bordeaux-Begles.
During the closure, southbound and northbound traffic will be diverted via the A38 through Gloucester, the A40 road between Cheltenham and Gloucester, and the A417.
National Highways also advises drivers to be aware of additional roadworks nearby, including the A40 Over Bridge project, the A417 Missing Link scheme, and bridge deck refurbishment between junctions 15 and 16 near Almondsbury Interchange, Bristol.
Further information about the bridge replacement and diversion routes will be available on the project’s web page ahead of the closure, along with updates on other ongoing schemes on the National Highways website.