National Highways has announced M5 closures this weekend in Gloucestershire, with the motorway shut between junction 11 and junction 12 from 11pm on Friday 16 October until 6am on Monday 19 October. The closure is set to clear the way for bridge demolition at Grove Court bridge and Uphill Court bridge.
Grove Court and Uphill Court
The two bridges have carried pedestrian footpaths for 64 years, but National Highways says they have deteriorated beyond repair and now need replacing. Both structures have been closed for safety reasons since March, and both will come down during the weekend shutdown.
That means the route between junction 11 and junction 12 will stay fully closed while high-reach excavators dismantle the bridges. The work is planned so the carriageway can reopen at 6am on Monday 19 October.
Bridge demolition on the M5
Each bridge is 69 metres long. National Highways says 440 tonnes of concrete and 14 tonnes of steel tendons will be removed from the carriageway before traffic returns on Monday morning.
The weekend closure gives crews a clear window to remove both bridges and clear the road surface in one sequence. For drivers using the Gloucestershire stretch of the M5, the immediate change is simple: travel between junction 11 and junction 12 is not possible until the route reopens.
Gloucestershire route changes
New modern standard bridges are planned for the site in the future, but the weekend work is focused only on demolition and clearance. The closure affects motorists heading through Cheltenham and Gloucester on the motorway section, with the road expected back in use after the debris is taken away.
The practical step for readers is to avoid the closed stretch during the weekend window and plan for the motorway to be unavailable between the two junctions until Monday morning.
