SOMERSET drivers are advised to expect disruption as two footbridges over the M5 are set to be demolished and replaced, leading to a full closure of the motorway.
The Grove Court and Uphill Court bridges, located between junctions 11 and 12 of the M5 near Gloucester, have served as pedestrian crossings for the past 64 years but have now "deteriorated beyond repair".
National Highways will demolish the 69-metre-long bridges over the weekend of October 16 to 19, with new, modern-standard structures planned for construction.
The closure could impact the journeys of thousands of drivers travelling from Somerset to the West Midlands and north of England over that weekend.
Ewan Greenhill, route manager at National Highways, said: "Like many of our motorways and structures, the bridges have exceeded their structural lifespan, and replacing them will ensure the safety of road users and keep people and goods moving safely.
"Both bridges are public rights of way, and we’re working closely with Gloucestershire County Council and others in terms of the replacement plans.
"In the meantime, we appreciate the weekend closure will have impacts for the travelling public; we thank people in advance for their patience, and our advice to drivers is to plan ahead, consider alternative routes and allow extra time for their journeys."
The bridges were closed in March for safety reasons.
High-reach excavators will be used to remove 440 tonnes of concrete and 14 tonnes of steel tendons from the carriageway during the demolition.
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To prepare for the work, the northbound exit slip road at Junction 11A will be closed for a week from Sunday, October 11, and will remain closed for a week after the demolition.
The M5 will be fully closed between Junction 11 (Cheltenham) and Junction 12 (Gloucester) from 11pm on Friday, October 16, until 6am on Monday, October 19.
Diversion routes have been planned to avoid conflict with other major roadworks, including A40 bridge works at Over.
The later Friday closure time of 11pm has been set to accommodate Gloucester Rugby’s European Champions Cup fixture against Bordeaux-Bègles.
During the closure, both northbound and southbound traffic will be diverted via the A38 through Gloucester, the A40 Cheltenham to Gloucester road, and the A417.
National Highways is also advising motorists to be aware of ongoing work on the A417 as part of the Missing Link scheme, as well as bridge deck refurbishment between junctions 15 and 16 at the Almondsbury Interchange near Bristol.
Further details about the closures and diversion routes are available on the National Highways website, with live travel updates provided throughout the weekend on the company’s travel alerts web page.
The new footbridges will bring the crossings up to modern standards, ensuring continued safe passage for pedestrians over the M5.
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