Bristol motorway to shut for Christmas
Bristol's M5 motorway will be completely closed near Avonmouth on Christmas Day – so a damaged bridge can be replaced.
The Lawrence Weston Bridge – just north of Junction 18 at Avonmouth – has suffered heavy damage due to being hit by high vehicles.
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Highway experts have decided the bridge should be replaced because emergency repairs in the future would lead to major traffic delays.
Christmas Day has been chosen to take out the bridge to keep congestion to a minimum.
It spans the motorway just north of playing fields belonging to St Bede's R C secondary school.
It is not used by vehicles because the road reduces to a cycle track on the coast side of the motorway.
The bridge will be replaced with a low-maintenance, single span steel bridge suitable for pedestrians and cyclists.
The M5 will be closed northbound at Avonmouth (Junction 18) and southbound at Cribbs Causeway (Junction 17) from midnight on Christmas Day.
Diversion routes will use the M4 and M49.
After the old bridge has been demolished, most works will take place on the verge of the carriageways.
The hard shoulder will have to be closed, together with off-peak lane closures, for safety reasons.
A section of central reserve concrete barrier will be installed beneath the bridge which will mean narrow lanes and speed restrictions.
Three lanes will be maintained in each direction during peak periods.
A second closure of the motorway will be needed to install the new bridge.
This is likely to take place towards the end of February.
4 Comments
by Jon, Bristol
Friday, September 11 2009, 9:58PM
“Surely if it's done on Christmas day this is better? I don't know the exact number of people using the roads on the 25th Dec each year, but I imagine this is the quietest day of the year?
At least it's not a bank holiday similar to the the train track repairs ...”
by derek, Nürnburg,germany 90478
Friday, September 11 2009, 4:49PM
“Three & half months to work out a way round.A 10 yr old would do it in 5 mins but I bet there will be some clowns driving right up to the bridge then moaning that they are stuck!”
by Suicide Watch, M5 Bridge
Friday, September 11 2009, 12:23PM
“What happens if someone wants to commit suicide off a bridge. Us car owners will be denied the opportunity to watch the knobhead trying to fly.”
by Road Tax payer, Bristol
Friday, September 11 2009, 9:44AM
“arghhh! The outrage, closing a motorway that I directly pay in taxes so they can build a cycle bridge for the cyclists, ALL of whom are hippy, lentil eating, lycra-clad, guardian reading, law breaking , tax dodging freeloaders..
My MP will hear about this.”