Yahoo News Warning of major M4 weekend closure near Gloucestershire
National Highways has issued an alert for drivers predicting severe delays as a stretch of the M4 will be closed for a full weekend in October due to essential works on the A432 Badminton Road Bridge. Motorists must brace for disruption as the motorway will be shut both ways between junctions 18 and 19 from 7pm on Friday, October 18 until 6am Monday, October 21.
This is to enable digging of a trench under the motorway which will facilitate utility diversions currently housed within the bridge; demolition of the structure is planned for the following year. This particular section of the M4 sees a peak flow of 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles every hour over the weekends.
The closure is set to create significant upheaval. Drivers are encouraged to steer clear of this area if possible and to rearrange their travel to less busy times.
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In anticipation of the disruptions, Sean Walsh, National Highways route manager, said: "This is one of the busiest sections of motorway in the South West which is why we are giving drivers as much notice as possible so they're able to plan their journeys well in advance.
"We carefully plan our schemes to limit any inconvenience, but sometimes it's not possible to carry out the work that's needed without a closure. Our message for anyone who plans to travel on the M4 around Bristol is to avoid the area if you can, if that's not possible, allow yourself plenty of extra time to complete your journey via our signed diversion routes and expect delays."
The Badminton Road bridge, a concrete post tensioned structure built in 1966, has been closed to traffic due to rapid deterioration and cracking found on the southeast underside of the structure during a scheduled detailed structural investigation in July 2023. After evaluating various alternatives, it was determined that demolishing and replacing the existing structure would be the quickest and most cost-effective solution.
The M4 closure is timed to coincide with a break in National Highways work on the A36 Warminster Road at Limpley Stoke, allowing Wiltshire Council to carry out work on the A350. The bridge work is expected to be finished by spring 2026.
