DRIVERS are urged to plan ahead as the M5 closes for two bridge demolitions near Gloucester this weekend.
National Highways will close the motorway between junction 11 at Cheltenham and junction 12 at Gloucester from 11pm this Friday until 6am on Monday.
The closure will allow contractors to demolish Grove Court and Uphill Court bridges, which cross the M5 and have been used as pedestrian footpaths for 64 years.
Both structures have been closed since March because they have deteriorated beyond repair. New bridges built to modern standards will be constructed in their place in the future.
Each bridge is 69 metres long. High-reach excavators will dismantle them during the weekend, removing 440 tonnes of concrete and 14 tonnes of steel tendons from the carriageway.
Terry Robinson, South West Engineering Lead for 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.”
He said: “We’ve communicated the closure to local communities and businesses, but we appreciate the weekend closure will still have impacts for the travelling public.”
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Mr Robinson added: “We thank people for their patience and in the meantime, our advice to drivers is to plan ahead, consider alternative routes and allow extra time for their journeys.”
Traffic will be diverted in both directions using the A38 through Gloucester, the A40 between Cheltenham and Gloucester, and the A417.
National Highways said diversion routes have been planned to reduce conflict with bridge works on the A40 at Over. The later Friday start will also allow people to attend Gloucester Rugby’s European Champions Cup match against Bordeaux-Begles.
The motorway is expected to reopen in time for Monday morning commuter traffic, once demolition work has been completed and the carriageway is safe.
Drivers are advised to check their routes before travelling and allow extra time for journeys. Further information and diversion details are available on National Highways’ scheme webpage.
Up-to-the-minute travel information will also be available through the organisation’s travel alerts webpage during the closure.
Local communities and businesses have been informed, although National Highways said the closure would affect people travelling through the area over the weekend.