Motorway bridge reopens but another will be closed

AN M5 bridge that has been closed for repairs since January is due to reopen on Friday but another one nearby is set to close for 13 months.

National Highways revealed both pieces of news on its website.

It said work would end at the Brookfield Road bridge, between Churchdown and Badgeworth, but then start at Badgeworth Lane bridge near Cheltenham just over three weeks later.

It said: “We’ve made better than expected progress, and weather permitting, we expect Brookfield Road bridge to be fully reopened to traffic and pedestrians Friday evening, October 14, almost two months ahead of our anticipated schedule.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their patience while this essential safety work was carried out.

“As soon as Brookfield is fully reopened we’ll start to move our resources to Bamfurlong Lane to begin a similar programme of refurbishment on that structure.

“We expect to start work on November

7, 2022.

“We anticipate Bamfurlong Lane bridge will take about 13 months to fully refurbish but, as always, this will depend on findings following concrete demolition.

“The works will follow a similar pattern with the bridge closed 24/7 to motorists, pedestrians and cyclists while refurbishment is in progress.

“Access will be maintained for residents and businesses on either side of the bridge and a local diversion route via the B4063 has been agreed with Gloucestershire County Council.”

The area to the west of Cheltenham had two other M5 bridges closed for a long period of repairs until fairly recently.

“They were at junction 11, which was partially shut for 18 months until March, and at Staverton, which was closed for 23 months until the end of May.