M5 reopens early after bridge demolition near Gloucester
Motorway work completed ahead of schedule, easing travel disruption in the area
The M5 motorway near Gloucester has reopened nine hours ahead of schedule after the successful demolition of two footbridges.
The work, which involved dismantling structures at Uphill Court and Grove Court, had necessitated a full closure between Junctions 11 and 12 from 11pm on Friday.
Both northbound and southbound carriageways are now open to traffic, though Junction 11A will stay closed through the week for additional work.
Terry Robinson, South West Engineering Lead for National Highways, acknowledged the impact of the closure and thanked motorists for their patience.
“Our teams have worked extremely hard, and it’s pleasing to open well ahead of the scheduled completion time,” Robinson said.
The pedestrian bridges will be replaced in the coming years, with materials from the old structures set to be recycled in future schemes.