Drivers travelling between Cheltenham and Gloucester on the M5 face a full weekend closure later this month as National Highways demolishes two ageing pedestrian bridges that have been shut since March on safety grounds.
What Is Happening
The M5 will be fully closed in both directions between Junction 11 (Cheltenham) and Junction 12 (Gloucester) from 11pm on Friday, 16 October until 6am on Monday, 19 October. The closure gives engineers the window needed to demolish and clear the Grove Court and Uphill Court footbridges, each 69 metres long and built more than 60 years ago.
Both structures were sealed off to the public in March after inspections found their edge beams had deteriorated beyond safe use, with crumbling concrete falling onto the carriageway below. National Highways says replacement bridges will be constructed at a later date once the old structures have been removed.
Demolition Details
High-reach excavators will dismantle the bridges over the weekend, removing an estimated 440 tonnes of concrete and 14 tonnes of steel tendons from the motorway carriageway before the road reopens for Monday morning commuter traffic. National Highways route manager Ewan Greenhill said the bridges had “exceeded their structural lifespan” and replacing them would “ensure the safety of road users and keep people and goods moving safely”.
To create a construction compound ahead of the weekend closure, the Junction 11A northbound exit slip road will be shut for a week from Sunday, 11 October, and will remain closed for a further week after the demolition is complete.
Diversion Routes
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 has timed the 11pm Friday start to allow Gloucester Rugby supporters to travel to Kingsholm Stadium for the club’s European Champions Cup match against Bordeaux-Bègles earlier that evening.
Drivers are also warned that additional roadworks are ongoing nearby: the A40 Over Bridge in Gloucester and the A417 Missing Link scheme are both active, meaning the diversion routes may themselves carry heavier than usual traffic. National Highways advises people to plan ahead, use alternative routes where possible and allow extra journey time.
Background
The Grove Court and Uphill Court bridges have served as pedestrian rights of way across the motorway for six decades, but like many structures of their era they have reached the end of their usable life. The M5 between Cheltenham and Gloucester is one of the most heavily used sections of the motorway network in the South West, carrying significant volumes of commuter and freight traffic daily.
The October closure follows a broader National Highways programme of structural maintenance across the M5 corridor. A separate bridge deck refurbishment project is also underway between junctions 15 and 16 at the Almondsbury Interchange near Bristol.
What Happens Next
Once both bridges have been demolished and debris cleared, work to design and build their modern replacements will begin. National Highways has not yet confirmed a timescale for the new structures. Full closure details and diversion maps are available on the National Highways website for the M5 Grove Court and Uphill Court footbridge replacement scheme.
Motorists are encouraged to check for live traffic updates on the National Highways website and via sat-nav systems before travelling over the closure weekend.
