Work to improve safety on the M4 and M5 around Bristol is nearly complete, with roadworks on the M4 set to be removed ahead of the Easter getaway, National Highways has said.
A six-mile section of motorway around the Almondsbury interchange has been upgraded over the past 14 months.
The work between junctions 19 and 20 on the M4 and between junctions 16 and 17 on the M5 included upgrading a four-mile section of steel barrier to concrete in the central reservation of the M4 around the Almondsbury interchange.
National Highways said concrete barriers are stronger than metal ones and significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another, as well as lasting twice as long.
The national operator's works also involved:
- building three new emergency areas on the M5
- upgrading traffic signs
- drainage work
- renewing lighting.
The M4/M5 Interchange is a dynamic hard shoulder (DHS) section of motorway with the hard shoulder used as a traffic lane at busy times.
In 2022, National Highways a programme to upgrade central reservation safety barriers on more than 60 miles of DHS motorway.
Nick Wells, who is overseeing the upgrades for National Highways, said: ‘Upgrading these barriers will improve journeys and significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to nother, improving safety and reducing the duration of incident-related congestion.'
The scheme is being delivered for National Highways by SMP Alliance.
Darren Lindsay, SMP Alliance’s M4/M5 project manager, said: ‘Working closely with National Highways, SMP Alliance’s team of collaborative experts worked tirelessly to efficiently deliver safety enhancements across this stretch of the motorway, including upgrades to the central reserve drainage system, barrier and lighting.’
While the work to enhance the M5 is almost complete, maintenance projects to refurbish two bridges at junctions 15 and 16 will continue until the summer, with traffic restrictions still in place between junctions 17 to 16 on the northbound M5.
National Highways said the bridges are now over 50 years old and needed waterproofing, surfacing, expansion joints and repairs to the concrete.
It added that the refurbishment work was scheduled at the same time as the safety works, so that disruption for motorists was not duplicated.
The April issue of Highways magazine will include a feature on safety barrier upgrades.
