M5 motorway

Last updated

UK-Motorway-M5.svg
M5
M5 motorwayM5 highlighted in blue
M5 motorway (Great Britain) map.svg
Shown with UK motorway network
M5 junction 20 from north.JPG
Looking south towards junction 20
Route information
Maintained by National Highways
Length162.9 mi (262.2 km)
Existed1962–present
History
  • Opened: 1962
  • Completed: 1977
Major junctions
Northeast end West Bromwich
Major intersections
Southwest end Exminster
Location
Country United Kingdom
Counties West Midlands, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Somerset, Devon
Primary
destinations
Road network
UK-Motorway-M4.svg M4 UK-Motorway-M6.svg M6

The M5 is a motorway in England linking the Midlands with the South West. It runs from junction 8 of the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley. It continues past Bromsgrove (and from Birmingham and Bromsgrove is part of the Birmingham Motorway Box), Droitwich Spa, Worcester, Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol, Portishead, Clevedon, Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater, Taunton, terminating at junction 31 for Exeter. Congestion on the section south of the M4 is common during the summer holidays, on Friday afternoons and bank holidays.

Contents

Route

M5 near junction 28, Devon M5 motorway, Cullompton.jpg
M5 near junction 28, Devon

The M5 quite closely follows the route of the A38 road. The two deviate slightly around Bristol and the area south of Bristol from junctions 16 to the Sedgemoor services north of junction 22. The A38 goes straight through the centre of Bristol and passes by Bristol Airport, while the M5 skirts both, with access to the airport from junctions 18, 19 or 22. The A38 continues south into Devon from junction 31, near Exminster.

Junction 15 of the M5 is a large four-level stack interchange, named the Almondsbury Interchange, where the M5 meets the M4. The Avonmouth Bridge, between junctions 18 and 19, is often a bottleneck during heavy traffic periods, due mainly to lane drops at either end of the bridge for the respective junctions, and the sharp angle in the centre of the bridge, which causes larger vehicles to slow considerably.[ citation needed ] There are split-level carriageways where the M5 ascends the hillsides above the Gordano Valley, between Portishead, junction 19 and Clevedon, junction 20. Between junction 21, Weston-super-Mare and junction 22, Burnham-on-Sea, the M5 passes by an isolated landmark hill called Brent Knoll and crosses the western end of the Mendip Hills. The Willow Man sculpture is visible from both carriageways, and acts as a landmark just to the south of junction 23, which as of 2021 had degraded and lost its head and arms. [1]

History

Construction

The first 26 miles (42 km) of the M5 motorway was constructed as a dual two-lane motorway with Worcestershire County Council acting as engineer. [2] This section from junction 4 (Lydiate Ash) in the north to a trumpet junction with the M50 in the south opened in July 1962. [2] [3] This original section of the M5, from junctions 4 to 8, was widened to provide six lanes in the early 1990s. During this work, the northbound Strensham services were rebuilt further away from the modified M50 junction. [4]

Worcestershire County Council, the police and particularly the county surveyor of Worcestershire made repeated representations that a dual three-lane standard motorway was appropriate. The Ministry of Transport insisted that a dual two-lane motorway would be built at a cost of around £8 million. The Motorways Archive also records that the carriageways were also built to a lower overall width of 88 feet (27 m) rather than 100 feet (30 m) to reduce the loss of agricultural land. When the decision became necessary to widen the Worcestershire section of M5, it cost £123 million. [4]

The 2-mile (3.2 km) dual two-lane section between junctions 16 and 17 built at Filton, near Bristol, was also opened in 1962, and was intended to replace the pre-war Filton bypass. [2] [3] [5] Gloucestershire County Council acted as engineer for this section, which was widened to a dual three-lane motorway in 1969. [3]

North of junction 4 the M5 was constructed in sections, from 1967 to 1970, together with the Frankley services. Much of the northern section beyond junction 3, from about Oldbury to the junction with the M6 motorway, was constructed as an elevated dual three-lane motorway over Birmingham Canal (Old Main Line), Birmingham Canal (New Main Line), and Titford Pool using concrete pillars. [3]

The M5 was also extended southwards, in sections, from 1967 to 1977, through Gloucestershire and Somerset, to Exeter in Devon as a dual three-lane motorway, [3] together with the Strensham services.

The short section between junctions 27 and 29 was built between 1967 and 1969, by Devon County Council, as the A38 Cullompton Bypass, with the intention that it should become part of the M5. [2] The termini for this section have since been removed, although part of the southern terminal roundabout is now used as an emergency access. [6] The section was developed to motorway standards, and incorporated into the M5 in 1975. [2]

Operational history

Junction 1 surrounds a surviving gatehouse from the former Sandwell Hall. The section from junctions 16 and 18 was illuminated in about 1973 as part or a wider policy announced by Minister for Transport Industries, John Peyton, in 1972 to illuminate the 86 miles (138 km) of UK motorway particularly prone to fog. [7]

In the late 1980s, junction 4a was built as part of the M42 motorway construction project. The route of the M42 was decided as early as 1972 but, owing to planning delays, the short section of the M42 north of Bromsgrove did not open until December 1989. [8]

As the M5 traffic increased in the 1980s, junction 11, the main Gloucester and Cheltenham access (via the A40 Golden Valley by-pass) became increasingly congested. At the same time there were plans for large scale business and housing developments at Brockworth, near Gloucester. To relieve junction 11 of some of the new traffic generated, & avoid more congestion around both Cheltenham & Gloucester, a new junction, 11A, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south of junction 11, was constructed and opened in the mid-1990s. A further feature of this junction was to create a new route from the south west Midlands to London and central southern England via the A417, A419 and the M4 at junction 15.

The Avonmouth Bridge, Bristol 040424 026 avonmouth.jpg
The Avonmouth Bridge, Bristol

The Avonmouth Bridge was converted to eight lanes (four lanes in each direction) in the early 2000s. Later, in 2005–2006, parts of the M5 between junctions 17 and 20 were widened to 7 lanes (four lanes climbing the hills and three lanes descending the hills); variable message signs were added and parts of the central reservation was converted to a concrete step barrier. During this stage of construction the M5 became Britain's longest contraflow system, [9] [10] spanning 9 miles (14 km) between junctions 19 and 20. The M5 contraflow was said to be the most complicated ever built in the UK as the motorway is on a split level around the steep hills of the Gordano Valley; meaning four lanes plus an additional emergency vehicle lane were squeezed into that section. [11]

M5 motorway south of the Avonmouth Bridge M5 motorway at gordano in bristol arp.jpg
M5 motorway south of the Avonmouth Bridge

In 2002, extended exits for junction 12 were constructed. The Highways Agency did not anticipate the traffic flows through the junction and the resultant queues soon extended back onto the motorway. [12]

The Cullompton services are signed on the motorway in the northbound direction only. This was implemented to reduce congestion at the low capacity junction, although there is still access available to the services southbound through the junction. Also, the northbound exit slip to the junction was reduced to one lane instead of two to reduce traffic on the small roundabout at the west side of the junction.

M5 entrance sign at junction 29 in Exeter M5 Motorway Entrance Sign.jpeg
M5 entrance sign at junction 29 in Exeter

In 2009, it was announced that the lighting between junctions 30 and 31 would be turned off between midnight and 5.00am to save energy. [13]

Proposals were announced in September 2009 for a new Gloucester Services between junctions 11a and 12. [14] A planning application was submitted in December 2009. Stroud District councillors approved the services in August 2010. [15] The Services opened in May 2014 [16]

In September 2020, Highways England announced that the section between junctions 1 and 2 in the West Midlands will be one of four in England to have its speed limit reduced to 60 mph (97 km/h) in a bid to reduce high levels of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide in the particular area. [17]

Future developments

In 2020, it was announced that junction 10 would be undergoing significant roadworks as part of a redevelopment project on the A4019. The works will involve making the interchange full-access and dualling the A4019 east of the junction into Cheltenham. [18] Works will commence in 2023 (subject to permission being granted) and be completed in 2024, according to the Gloucestershire County Council. [18]

There have been suggestions that the Government extend the M5 south, to the city of Plymouth, which currently relies on the A38 road. The argument for such an extension has intensified in light of the closure of Plymouth City Airport in 2011, and the 2014 breaching of the South Devon Railway sea wall following storms that in turn, cut off Plymouth and Cornwall's rail access. [19] [20]

Improvements to junction 25 at Taunton were approved with an £18 million programme that will include the enlargement of the junction roundabout, the widening of the eastern junction slip road exit, and an additional roundabout southeast of the junction to provide access to a new business park and to a proposed bypass of the hamlet of Henlade. [21]

Incidents and events

Discovery of bones

In October 2009, workmen clearing vegetation from the slip road at junction 14 discovered human bones in a black bin bag dumped in the bushes. [22] The police were called soon after, and it was soon established that the bones were those of a young female. A few days later, DNA found on the remains confirmed that the body was that of Melanie Hall, a Bath hospital worker who disappeared in June 1996 after a night out in Bath, and who had been declared dead in absentia in 2004. Dental records confirmed that the body was hers, and the police began a formal investigation into her murder. [23] As of 2016 no one has been prosecuted in connection with this case. Some keys were also discovered and the police contacted Ford to help them trace the vehicle.

2011 multi-vehicle collision

On the evening of Friday 4 November 2011, seven people were killed and a further 51 injured in a major crash involving over 50 vehicles which included cars, vans and large goods vehicles near junction 25 in West Monkton, near Taunton. [24] Several vehicles were burnt out in the fire which developed at the scene as the result of a series of explosions, and the road surface was seriously damaged, not just by the fire and explosions, but also by fuel spillage. [25] The cause of the crash, which took place in wet foggy conditions close to a firework display, was investigated. One person was charged for breach under health and safety laws and found not guilty. [26]

Junctions

Data from driver location signs are used to provide distance and carriageway identifier information. [27] [28] [29] Where both the start and end point of the junction are known, both have been included.

M5 motorway junctions
milekmNorth-east bound exits (B carriageway)JunctionSouth-west bound exits (A carriageway)Coordinates
0.00.0 London (M1, M40), Birmingham (N&E), The North West, Walsall, Wolverhampton M6 M6 J8Start of motorway 52°32′10″N1°58′12″W / 52.5360°N 1.9699°W / 52.5360; -1.9699 (M6, Junction 8)
2.7
3.3
4.3
5.3
West Bromwich, Birmingham (NW) A41 J1 West Bromwich, Sandwell, Birmingham (NW) A41 52°30′43″N1°58′31″W / 52.5119°N 1.9754°W / 52.5119; -1.9754 (M5, Junction 1)
5.2
5.8
8.4
9.3
Dudley, Wolverhampton, Sandwell A4123 J2 Birmingham (W), Dudley A4123 52°29′34″N2°01′08″W / 52.4927°N 2.0188°W / 52.4927; -2.0188 (M5, Junction 2)
8.6
9.0
13.8
14.5
Birmingham (W&C) A456 J3 Kidderminster A456 52°26′57″N2°00′55″W / 52.4491°N 2.0152°W / 52.4491; -2.0152 (M5, Junction 3)
Entering West Midlands Entering Worcestershire 52°25′58″N2°01′03″W / 52.4329°N 2.0175°W / 52.4329; -2.0175
Frankley services Services Frankley services 52°25′45″N2°01′04″W / 52.4292°N 2.0179°W / 52.4292; -2.0179 (M5, Frankley services)
14.0
14.4
22.5
23.2
Birmingham (SW) A38, Stourbridge A491 J4 Birmingham (SW), Bromsgrove A38 52°22′43″N2°02′47″W / 52.3786°N 2.0465°W / 52.3786; -2.0465 (M5, Junction 4)
16.125.9End of variable speed limit UK traffic sign 671.svg J4A London (M40), National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham BSicon FLUG.svg M42 52°21′15″N2°04′16″W / 52.3543°N 2.0711°W / 52.3543; -2.0711 (M5, Junction 4A)
16.626.7 The North East, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham BSicon FLUG.svg M42 Start of variable speed limit UK traffic sign 879.svg
21.4
21.7
34.5
35.0
Bromsgrove, Droitwich A38 J5 Droitwich A38 52°17′15″N2°07′13″W / 52.2876°N 2.1202°W / 52.2876; -2.1202 (M5, Junction 5)
27.0
27.5
43.5
44.2
Worcester (N), Kidderminster A449 J6 Worcester (N) A449, Evesham A4538 52°12′46″N2°09′28″W / 52.2128°N 2.1579°W / 52.2128; -2.1579 (M5, Junction 6)
Start of variable speed limit UK traffic sign 879.svg End of variable speed limit UK traffic sign 671.svg
30.2
30.7
48.6
49.4
Worcester (S), Evesham A44 J7 Worcester (S) A44 52°10′07″N2°10′49″W / 52.1687°N 2.1803°W / 52.1687; -2.1803 (M5, Junction 7)
Strensham services (northbound)ServicesNo access 52°03′55″N2°09′28″W / 52.0652°N 2.1577°W / 52.0652; -2.1577 (M5, Strensham services (northbound))
No access Strensham services (southbound) 52°03′27″N2°08′33″W / 52.0574°N 2.1426°W / 52.0574; -2.1426 (M5, Strensham services (southbound))
39.763.9Entering Worcestershire J8 South Wales, Ross M50 52°02′52″N2°08′08″W / 52.0478°N 2.1356°W / 52.0478; -2.1356 (M5, Junction 8)
40.064.4 South Wales, Ross M50 Entering Gloucestershire
Entering Gloucestershire River Avon 52°01′51″N2°07′32″W / 52.0307°N 2.1255°W / 52.0307; -2.1255 (M5, River Avon)
River Avon Entering Worcestershire
Entering Worcestershire Entering Gloucestershire 52°00′41″N2°07′16″W / 52.0113°N 2.1211°W / 52.0113; -2.1211
43.4
43.9
69.8
70.6
Tewkesbury A438, Evesham A46 J9 Evesham A46, Tewkesbury A438 51°59′47″N2°07′25″W / 51.9965°N 2.1237°W / 51.9965; -2.1237 (M5, Junction 8)
48.3
48.5
77.7
78.0
No access (on-slip only)J10 Cheltenham A4019 51°55′44″N2°08′24″W / 51.9290°N 2.1400°W / 51.9290; -2.1400 (M5, Junction 10)
51.0
51.4
82.1
82.8
Gloucester (North & East), Cheltenham A40 J11 Cheltenham, Gloucester (North & East), Staverton BSicon FLUG.svg A40 51°53′23″N2°09′05″W / 51.8897°N 2.1514°W / 51.8897; -2.1514 (M5, Junction 11)
53.4
54.0
85.9
86.9
Gloucester (West), Cirencester A417 J11A Gloucester (West), London, Swindon, Cirencester A417 51°51′28″N2°10′25″W / 51.8578°N 2.1735°W / 51.8578; -2.1735 (M5, Junction 11A)
Gloucester services Services Gloucester services 51°51′44″N2°10′00″W / 51.8621°N 2.1667°W / 51.8621; -2.1667 (Gloucestershire gateway services)
60.2
60.5
96.9
97.4
Gloucester (Central & South) (A38) J12 Gloucester (Central & South) (A38) 51°47′54″N2°17′20″W / 51.7982°N 2.2889°W / 51.7982; -2.2889 (M5, Junction 12)
63.3
63.7
101.8
102.5
Stroud A419 J13 Stroud, Dursley A419 51°45′35″N2°19′22″W / 51.7598°N 2.3227°W / 51.7598; -2.3227 (M5, Junction 13)
71.9115.7 Michaelwood services Services Michaelwood services 51°39′24″N2°25′45″W / 51.6567°N 2.4292°W / 51.6567; -2.4292 (M5, Michaelwood services)
Entering Gloucestershire Entering South Gloucestershire
73.6
73.9
118.4
119.0
Dursley B4509 J14 Thornbury B4509 51°38′12″N2°27′08″W / 51.6368°N 2.4521°W / 51.6368; -2.4521 (M5, Junction 14)
End of variable speed limit UK traffic sign 671.svg J15

Almondsbury Interchange

Start of variable speed limit UK traffic sign 879.svg 51°33′05″N2°33′09″W / 51.5514°N 2.5524°W / 51.5514; -2.5524 (M5, Junction 15)
81.1
81.7
130.5
131.5
South Wales, Chepstow (M48) M4(W)
London, Bath, Bristol (C) M4(E)
London, Bath, Bristol (C) (M32) M4(E)
South Wales, Chepstow, Newport, Cardiff (M48) M4(W)
82.0
82.3
132.0
132.5
Thornbury, Filton A38 J16 Thornbury, Filton A38 51°32′50″N2°34′06″W / 51.5472°N 2.5684°W / 51.5472; -2.5684 (M5, Junction 16)
84.2
84.6
135.5
136.2
Bristol (W), Cribbs Causeway A4018 J17 Bristol (W), Cribbs Causeway A4018 51°31′43″N2°36′37″W / 51.5286°N 2.6102°W / 51.5286; -2.6102 (M5, Junction 17)
Start of variable speed limit UK traffic sign 879.svg End of variable speed limit UK traffic sign 671.svg
Entering South Gloucestershire Entering Bristol 51°30′47″N2°39′08″W / 51.5130°N 2.6521°W / 51.5130; -2.6521
87.4
87.7
140.6
141.2
South Wales, Cardiff, Newport M49 (M4(W)) J18ANo access (on-slip only) 51°30′08″N2°40′26″W / 51.5021°N 2.6740°W / 51.5021; -2.6740 (M5, Junction 18A)
88.0
88.2
141.6
142.0
Bristol, Bristol BSicon FLUG.svg , Shirehampton, Avonmouth, Docks A4, Aust (A403) J18 Avonmouth, Bristol (West), Bristol BSicon FLUG.svg A4 51°30′09″N2°40′22″W / 51.5026°N 2.6728°W / 51.5026; -2.6728 (M5, Junction 18)
Entering Bristol Avonmouth Bridge 51°29′20″N2°41′34″W / 51.4890°N 2.6928°W / 51.4890; -2.6928 (M5, Avonmouth Bridge)
Avonmouth Bridge Entering Somerset
90.1145.0 Clifton (Toll), Portishead, Royal Portbury Dock A369
Gordano services
J19
Services
Portishead, Royal Portbury Dock A369
Gordano services
51°28′39″N2°42′42″W / 51.4774°N 2.7117°W / 51.4774; -2.7117 (M5, Junction 19)
96.7155.6 Clevedon, Nailsea B3133 J20 Clevedon, Nailsea B3133 51°25′56″N2°50′19″W / 51.4322°N 2.8387°W / 51.4322; -2.8387 (M5, Junction 20)
Blind Yeo 51°25′35″N2°50′37″W / 51.4263°N 2.8435°W / 51.4263; -2.8435 (M5, Blind Yeo)
102.3164.6 Weston-super-Mare, Bristol (South) A370 J21 Weston-super-Mare A370 51°21′32″N2°53′37″W / 51.3589°N 2.8936°W / 51.3589; -2.8936 (M5, Junction 21)
River Axe 51°17′27″N2°53′51″W / 51.2907°N 2.8974°W / 51.2907; -2.8974 (M5, River Axe)
109.1175.6 Sedgemoor services Services Sedgemoor services 51°16′08″N2°55′17″W / 51.2689°N 2.9214°W / 51.2689; -2.9214 (M5, Sedgemoor services)
111.7179.8 Weston-super-Mare, Burnham-on-Sea, Bristol (South), Bristol BSicon FLUG.svg Bath A38 J22 Highbridge, Burnham-on-Sea A38 51°14′10″N2°56′48″W / 51.2360°N 2.9467°W / 51.2360; -2.9467 (M5, Junction 22)
River Brue 51°12′49″N2°57′46″W / 51.2136°N 2.9629°W / 51.2136; -2.9629 (M5, River Brue)
Huntspill River 51°11′39″N2°58′15″W / 51.1941°N 2.9708°W / 51.1941; -2.9708 (M5, Huntspill River)
116.9188.1 Highbridge (A38), Glastonbury, Wells A39 J23 Bridgwater (A38), Minehead, Glastonbury, Wells A39 51°10′01″N2°58′51″W / 51.1670°N 2.9809°W / 51.1670; -2.9809 (M5, Junction 23)
King's Sedgemoor Drain 51°09′50″N2°58′53″W / 51.1639°N 2.9814°W / 51.1639; -2.9814 (M5, King's Sedgemoor Drain)
River Parrett 51°06′54″N2°58′45″W / 51.1150°N 2.9793°W / 51.1150; -2.9793 (M5, River Parrett)
121.8
122.0
196.0
196.3
Bridgwater, Minehead A38
Bridgwater services
J24
Services
Minehead (A39)
Bridgwater services
51°06′07″N2°59′38″W / 51.1019°N 2.9940°W / 51.1019; -2.9940 (M5, Junction 24)
River Tone 51°01′23″N3°03′28″W / 51.0230°N 3.0578°W / 51.0230; -3.0578 (M5, River Tone)
128.4
128.6
206.7
206.9
Taunton, Yeovil A358 J25 Taunton, Honiton, Yeovil, Weymouth A358 51°01′04″N3°03′49″W / 51.0178°N 3.0636°W / 51.0178; -3.0636 (M5, Junction 25)
133.3214.5 Taunton Deane services Services Taunton Deane services 50°58′37″N3°08′48″W / 50.9769°N 3.1468°W / 50.9769; -3.1468 (M5, Taunton Deane services)
135.3
135.5
217.8
218.0
Wellington, Taunton A38 J26 Wellington A38 50°58′23″N3°11′29″W / 50.9730°N 3.1914°W / 50.9730; -3.1914 (M5, Junction 26)
Entering Somerset Entering Devon 50°56′58″N3°16′25″W / 50.9495°N 3.2737°W / 50.9495; -3.2737
143.4
143.7
230.7
231.3
Barnstaple, Tiverton A361, Wellington A38 J27 Tiverton, Barnstaple A361 50°55′04″N3°21′24″W / 50.9177°N 3.3566°W / 50.9177; -3.3566 (M5, Junction 27)
147.6
147.9
237.5
238.0
Cullompton B3181
Cullompton services
J28
Services
Honiton A373, Cullompton B3181 50°51′39″N3°23′02″W / 50.8609°N 3.3838°W / 50.8609; -3.3838 (M5, Junction 28)
157.7
158.1
253.8
254.4
Honiton, Exeter BSicon FLUG.svg A30 J29 Honiton A30 (East), Exeter BSicon FLUG.svg 50°43′44″N3°27′45″W / 50.7288°N 3.4624°W / 50.7288; -3.4624 (M5, Junction 29)
158.9
159.3
255.7
256.3
Exeter A379, Exmouth A376, Sidmouth (A3052)
Exeter services
J30
Services
Dawlish, Exeter A379, Sidmouth, Exmouth A376
Exeter services
50°42′45″N3°27′50″W / 50.7124°N 3.4638°W / 50.7124; -3.4638 (M5, Junction 30)
162.4
162.6
261.4
261.7
Start of motorway UK motorway symbol.svg J31 Bodmin, Okehampton A30 50°40′48″N3°31′00″W / 50.6801°N 3.5166°W / 50.6801; -3.5166 (M5, Junction 31)
162.7261.8 Okehampton A30 (West), Exeter (A377)
Non-motorway traffic
End of motorway Mauritius Road Signs - Information Sign - End of Motorway.svg
Road continues as
A38 towards Plymouth, Torquay
50°40′41″N3°31′22″W / 50.6780°N 3.5228°W / 50.6780; -3.5228 (M5 transition to A380)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
Junction information gathered from Advanced Direction Signs March to June 2011 (J4A – J31), all updated as of August 2020. Coordinates from Google Maps, taken at the approximate centre of the junction

Cultural references

M5#1 is a song from the 1994 album Middle Class Revolt by post-punk band The Fall which uses the M5 to describe reverting to a romanticised agricultural past that never really existed. [30]

See also

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The M40 motorway links London, Oxford, and Birmingham in England, a distance of approximately 89 miles (143 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A38 road</span> Trunk road in England

The A38, parts of which are known as Devon Expressway, Bristol Road and Gloucester Road, is a major A-class trunk road in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M42 motorway</span> Motorway in England

The M42 motorway runs north east from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire to just south west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, passing Redditch, Solihull, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Tamworth on the way, serving the east of the Birmingham metropolitan area. The section between the M40 and junction 4 of the M6 forms – though unsigned as such – a part of Euroroute E05. Northwards beyond junction 11, the route is continued as the A42; the junctions on this section, 12–14, are numbered like a continuation of the motorway, but the road has non-motorway status from here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M32 motorway</span> Motorway in England

The M32 is a 4.42 miles (7.11 km) long motorway in South Gloucestershire and Bristol, England. It provides a link from the M4, a major motorway linking London and South Wales, to Bristol city centre and is maintained by National Highways, the national roads body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M50 motorway (Great Britain)</span> Motorway in England

The M50 is a dual two-lane motorway in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire, England. Sometimes referred to as the Ross Spur, it is a 22 miles (35 km) connection of the M5 motorway to a point near Ross-on-Wye, where it joins the A40 road continuing westward into Wales. The motorway was fully opened in 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A38(M) motorway</span> Motorway in Great Britain

The A38(M), commonly known as the Aston Expressway, is a motorway in Birmingham, England. It is 2 miles (3.2 km) long and was opened on 24 May 1972. It connects the M6 motorway to Aston and Central Birmingham and forms part of the much longer A38 route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patchway</span> Human settlement in England

Patchway is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated 6 mi (9.7 km) north-north west of central Bristol. The town has become an overflow settlement for Bristol and is contiguous with Bristol's urban area, along with the nearby towns of Filton and Bradley Stoke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A350 road</span> Road in England

The A350 is a north–south primary route in southern England, that runs from the M4 motorway in Wiltshire to Poole in Dorset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A419 road</span> Road in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire

The A419 road is a primary route between Chiseldon near Swindon at junction 15 of the M4 with the A346 road, and Whitminster in Gloucestershire, England near the M5 motorway. The A419 is managed and maintained by a private company, Road Management Group, on behalf of the UK Department for Transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A441 road</span> Road in the West Midlands

A441 is an A-road in England which runs from central Birmingham to Cookhill, Worcestershire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A453 road</span> Road in the Midlands

The A453 road was formerly the main trunk road connecting the English cities of Nottingham and Birmingham. However, the middle section of this mainly single-carriageway road has largely been downgraded to B roads or unclassified roads following the construction of the parallel M42-A42 link around 1990. The M42 was originally meant to pass further north than it does, and to join the M1 at Sandiacre in Derbyshire. The M42/A42 does not enter Derbyshire, but instead joins the M1 closer to the A453 junction at Kegworth. The A42 shadows the former A453 from Appleby Magna to Castle Donington. The road historically connected the East Midlands with the West Midlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almondsbury Interchange</span> Junction of M4 and M5 motorways near Bristol, England

The Almondsbury Interchange in South Gloucestershire, is one of the United Kingdom's largest motorway stack interchanges. The interchange is one of only three four-level stacks in the UK, spanning a range of 1 km by 1 km. It is the interchange for the M5 at junction 15 and M4 at junction 20, and is situated at the northern fringes of Bristol close to the village of Almondsbury, the Aztec West industrial estate, and Bradley Stoke. When it opened in 1966, it was the most complex junction on the British motorway network, a free-flowing interchange on four levels. Since then traffic volumes have increased. Additionally, at busy periods, the Interchange becomes more difficult to negotiate safely. In an attempt to ease congestion, the Interchange has become part of a smart motorway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A4174 road</span> Road in Bristol

The A4174 is a major ring road in England which runs around the northern and eastern edge of Bristol, mainly in South Gloucestershire, and through the southern suburbs of the city. When it was first conceived it was planned to circle the whole of Bristol, and is commonly referred to as the "Avon Ring Road", or less accurately the "Bristol Ring Road", on road signs. The road does not circle the whole city, instead covering roughly half of the route. It is broken in part where it is concurrent with the A4.

Bristol is a city in south west England, near the Bristol Channel coast, approximately 106 miles (170 km) west of London. Several factors have influenced the development of its transport network. It is a major centre of employment, retail, culture and higher education, has many historic areas, and has a history of maritime industry. The city has a population of 450,000, with a metropolitan area of 650,000, and lies at the centre of the former County of Avon, which includes many dormitory towns, and has a population of one million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A370 road</span> Road in England

The A370 is a primary road in England running from the A4 Bath Road, near Bristol Temple Meads railway station to Weston-super-Mare before continuing to the village of East Brent in Somerset. A more direct route from Bristol to East Brent is the A38.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smart motorway</span> Designation of roads in the United Kingdom

A smart motorway, also known in Scotland as an intelligent transport system, is a section of motorway in the United Kingdom that employs active traffic management (ATM) techniques to increase capacity through the use of MIDAS technology including variable speed limits and occasionally hard shoulder running and ramp metering at busy times. They were developed at the turn of the 21st century as a cost-effective alternative to traditional carriageway widening, with intended benefits ranging from more reliable journey times to lower vehicle emissions. However, despite the risk of a collision occurring between two moving vehicles being found to be decreased, there has been an acknowledged rise in the incidence of collisions involving vehicles where at least one was stationary in the first few years following the widespread removal of the hard shoulder on the country's busiest sections of motorway. Smart motorways garnered intense criticism from politicians, police representatives and motoring organisations, particularly from 2020 onwards, after a surge in near miss incidents and dozens of fatalities were revealed, and as of April 2023, no new smart motorways will be built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A42 road (England)</span> Road in England

The A42 is a major trunk road in the East Midlands region of the United Kingdom. It links junction 23A of the M1 motorway to junction 11 of the M42 motorway. The A42 is in effect a continuation of the M42, and its junctions are numbered accordingly.

References

Notes

  1. "M5 Somerset Willow Man: 'Can't let him fall apart'". BBC News. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Charlesworth (1984) , pp. 135–140
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Charlesworth (1984) , pp. 100–123, Table 7.3
  4. 1 2 "M5 Widening between Junctions 3 & 8". CIHT. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  5. Ordnance Survey One Inch Map of Great Britain, Series 7 Sheet 156, major roads revised 1963.
  6. "SABRE Photo Gallery".
  7. "News: Motorway lighting". Autocar . Vol. 137 nbr 3978. 13 July 1972. p. 19.
  8. "The Motorway Archive – M42". Iht.org. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  9. Sky News – UK's Longest Contraflow Archived 14 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "'Most complex' contraflow". BBC News. 29 October 2005. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  11. Western Daily Press – West beware! It's Britain's biggest road contraflow
  12. "Agency admits error over junction". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 November 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  13. "Night switch-off for M5 lighting". BBC News. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  14. "Eco-services plan for M5". This is Gloucestershire. 17 September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  15. "Plans for Gloucestershire M5 service station approved". BBC News Gloucestershire. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  16. "Planning background". Gloucestershiregatewayservies. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  17. "Motorways to trial 60mph limits to cut pollution". BBC News . BBC. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Pinpoint". m5-junction-10-have-your-say.gloucestershire.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  19. "M5 will be extended to Plymouth if these business leaders get their wish". Cornwall Live. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  20. "Calls to extend M5 from Exeter to Plymouth". ITV. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  21. "Taunton £18m motorway upgrade approved". BBC News . 9 March 2018.
  22. "M5 bones find confirmed as female". BBC News. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  23. "Man held over Melanie Hall M5 murder inquiry". BBC News. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  24. "Seven confirmed dead in M5 accident in Somerset". BBC News. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  25. O'Carroll, Lisa (5 November 2011). "M5 Crash: Latest Updates: Live". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  26. Bayley, Jon (7 November 2011). "Police investigate smoke as possible cause of M5 pile-up in which seven died". Western Morning News . Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  27. "Traffic England Live Traffic Condition Map". Locations extracted from Traffic Camera Popup (J1 to J10). Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  28. J11-J18: Driver Location Signs, M5 J18-11, M4 J22-15 (map) Highway Authority 2009
  29. J19-J30: Driver Location Signs, M5 J19-30 (map) – Highway Authority, 2009
  30. "The Annotated Fall - M5 #1". The Annotated Fall. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.

Sources

Further reading

Openstreetmap logo.svg Geographic data related to M5 motorway at OpenStreetMap

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