THERE will be lane, carriageway and slip road closures on the M5 between Junction 4a (Bromsgrove) and Junction 7 (Worcester) from tonight (Tuesday) to Monday (March 14).
The closures are going to be in place from 8pm each night to 6am the next morning so construction work on creating a ‘smart motorway’ can get underway.
Smart motorways help relieve congestion by converting the hard shoulder to a running lane and use technology to monitor traffic flow.
By varying the mandatory speed limits, smart motorways are aimed at ensuring traffic moves smoothly.
The overnight work, being carried out as part of the major upgrade to the M5, will see narrow lanes created for drivers to use while the construction takes place. That will ensure there will still be three lanes of traffic running while the work takes place.
Details of the closures will be clearly signed, as will diversion routes.
Highways England will also use the closures to remove the remaining overhead signs which will not be required when the smart motorway is in use.
By undertaking this work now it will reduce the overall number of full carriageway closures required to complete the project.
Janice Allen, the Highways England project lead, said the closures would lessen the inconvenience for motorway users and those living alongside it.
“The work we’re doing each night differs in nature from the works undertaken on February 5, which caused considerable disruption.
“I want to reassure motorists that we are doing all that we can to minimise disruption to journeys and to complete the work timely and efficiently.”
Visit http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/m5-junctions-4a-to-6/ for more on these closures and those planned for the coming weeks.
