M5 between Gordano and Weston to close both ways this week

Drivers in and around North Somerset will have National Highways road closures to watch out for this week.

• The M5 motorway will be closed from 8am to 4pm on November 18, with slight delays expected: M5 southbound, junction 21 to 22, hard shoulder closure for surveys.
• M5, from 9pm November 18 to 6am November 19, slight delays: M5 both directions, junction 21 northbound, exit slip road and southbound, entry slip road closed for inspections, diversion to junction 20 and return.

Both closures are only expected to cause delays of between 10 and 30 minutes.

The M5 has been partly closed at junction 20 entry slip for structural inspections this month (November).

One temporary access road runs from the end of Station Road along the route of the M5 up to the railway line. This access road is now complete.

Another will be to the north of the railway, and come off Wick Road.

Works on this temporary access road started in October and are due to be completed in December.

The temporary roads will remain in place until National Highways finishes their work under the bridge.

The areas will then be reinstated to their current condition.

National Highways is responsible for maintaining motorways and major A-roads, so closures of smaller roads will not be included in their schedule.

Speaking about the ongoing work, a spokesperson from National Highways said: "We’re getting ready to start our essential repairs to St Georges Bridge. The bridge carries the M5 over the railway near junction 21 for Weston-super-Mare.

"We’re starting with repairs to the bridge from underneath the motorway. The M5 will be open as usual during this phase.

"We’re setting up two temporary access roads to the east of the motorway. This will allow us to safely get people and equipment under the bridge.

"We will be closing the southbound entry slip road, as well as the northbound exit slip road at junction 21."