M5 closes all weekend as two old footbridges come down
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- The M5 closes both ways between junctions 11 and 12 near Gloucester from 11pm Friday, October 16 to 6am Monday, October 19.
- Crews will demolish two 64-year-old footbridges that have been shut since March and are now past safe repair.
- Drivers should follow signed diversion routes, allow extra time, and use the M50 for Midlands to South Wales trips.
The M5 closes this weekend near Gloucester. The shut stretch runs both ways between junctions 11 and 12. It closes at 11pm on Friday, October 16.
It reopens at 6am on Monday, October 19.
Crews will demolish two old footbridges in that time. Drivers must use signed diversion routes instead. This is one of the biggest road stories in England this weekend.
Thousands of drivers use this stretch each day. It links Cheltenham and Gloucester with the wider motorway network.
The closure will push traffic onto local roads. Those roads are not built for heavy traffic.
What happened
National Highways ordered the full weekend closure. The M5 will shut in both directions between junction 11 and junction 12.
Junction 11 serves Cheltenham. Junction 12 serves Gloucester.
The closure also covers junction 11a. It starts at 11pm on Friday, October 16. It ends at 6am on Monday, October 19.
The reason is demolition work. Two footbridges cross the motorway between the two junctions. Their names are Grove Court and Uphill Court.
Each bridge is 69 metres long.
Both have stood over the M5 for 64 years. Crews will take them down over the weekend. High-reach excavators will do the heavy work.
The job will clear a large amount of debris. Workers will remove about 440 tonnes of concrete. They will also remove 14 tonnes of steel tendons.
Tendons are strong steel strands inside the concrete. They hold the bridge structure tight. All debris must leave the carriageway before the road reopens.
The motorway should reopen in time for Monday morning traffic. The 11pm start time was a choice. It lets fans reach a rugby match first.
Gloucester Rugby plays Union Bordeaux-Begles on Friday night. The match is a European Champions Cup game. A later start gives fans time to travel.
The closure follows an earlier restriction. The M5 northbound junction 11a exit slip road closed first. It shut at 8pm on Sunday, October 11.
It stays closed 24 hours a day for about two weeks. Drivers can still leave the motorway at junction 11. That exit stays open during the slip road closure.
Why the bridges must come down
Both bridges have been closed since March 2026. Walkers could no longer use them. The reason was their poor state.
The bridges had deteriorated beyond repair. Deteriorated means they wore down over time. Rain, frost, and age broke down the concrete.
Winter made the problem worse. Water got into small gaps in the concrete. The water froze in cold weather.
Ice takes up more space than water. That force cracked the edges of both bridges. Pieces of concrete could break off and fall.
Falling concrete above a live motorway is a grave risk. Cars below travel at high speed. Even a small chunk could cause a crash.
Terry Robinson leads engineering for National Highways in the South West. He said the bridges passed their safe design life. He said replacing them will keep road users safe.
The bridges will not get a quick fix. Patching them is no longer safe. The only safe choice is full removal.
Crews will demolish both structures this weekend. The site will then sit clear until new bridges are built. That plan removes the risk of falling debris.
The age of the bridges tells part of the story. They served walkers for 64 years. They carried people over a busy motorway each day.
But concrete structures do not last forever. Time and weather wear them down. At some point, repair stops making sense.
What drivers should do
National Highways asks drivers to plan each trip. Check your route before you set off. Follow signed diversion routes on the day.
Do not trust satnavs alone. Satnavs may send you down small local roads. Signed routes are set for heavy traffic.
Traffic will use the A38, the A40, and the A417. These roads run through and around Gloucester. They will be busy all weekend.
Drivers should allow extra time for each trip. A short trip may take much longer than usual. Long trips may need a new route plan.
One clear tip helps long-distance drivers. Anyone travelling between the Midlands and South Wales should use the M50. The M50 avoids the closed stretch.
It may add miles to the trip. But it should save time on a busy weekend. It also keeps local roads clearer for local drivers.
Drivers should also think about the timing of trips. Travel at a quiet time if you can. Early mornings and late evenings may be calmer.
Avoid peak hours where you can. If the trip can wait, wait until Monday. The road reopens at 6am on Monday.
Drive with care through local towns and villages. Many diversion roads pass through small communities. Those roads are narrow in places.
National Highways asks drivers to drive considerately. Keep your speed down. Watch for walkers and cyclists.
Other roadworks may add delays. The A40 has lane closures at Over Bridge. The A417 has works between Gloucester and Cirencester.
These works may slow diversion traffic. Check live travel news before you leave. National Highways posts live updates on its travel alerts page.
Breakdowns in slow traffic can make a bad trip worse. Heat can build up when cars crawl. Learn how to check your coolant level before you travel.
A flat tyre on a diversion route is also a risk. Know how to change a flat tyre safely at the roadside before you need to. If your car pulls to one side while driving, get it checked before a long trip.
What happens next
The road should reopen at 6am on Monday, October 19. Crews must finish the demolition first. They must clear all debris from the carriageway.
They must check the road is safe. Only then can traffic return. National Highways expects the road to open on time.
Drivers should still check for news on Monday morning. New bridges will come later. Both bridges are due to be replaced.
The new structures will meet modern standards. They will give safe access to walkers, cyclists, and wheelchair users. The current plan sets a five-year window.
The work depends on funding and other network needs. That phrase means the money is not yet fixed. Other road projects may come first.
The slip road closure will outlast the weekend. The junction 11a northbound exit stays shut for about two weeks. It closed on October 11.
Drivers should keep using junction 11 in that time. The slip road will reopen once its works finish.
Gloucestershire County Council is working with National Highways. The council wants to cut congestion where it can. It has told local councillors about the works.
It warns that the closure will hit traffic around Gloucester. The council asks residents and firms to plan ahead. It also asks drivers to be kind to local communities.
People with questions can contact National Highways. Its phone line is 0300 123 5000.
Live travel news will show the latest state of the road. The closure is a short pain for a safer road.
Two worn bridges will come down. A safer route will take their place.
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