M5 motorway

The M5 is a motorway in the UK linking the Midlands with South West England. It runs from junction 8 of the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading southwest, 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, 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.

M5
Looking south towards junction 20
Route information
Maintained by Highways England
Length	162.9 mi (262.2 km)
Existed	1962–present
History	Opened: 1962 Completed: 1977
Major junctions
Northeast end	West Bromwich
	M6 motorway J4a → M42 motorway J8 → M50 motorway J15 → M4 motorway J18a → M49 motorway
Southwest end	Exminster
Location
Counties	West Midlands, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Somerset, Devon
Primary destinations	West Bromwich Birmingham Bromsgrove Worcester Cheltenham Gloucester Bristol Weston-super-Mare Bridgwater Taunton Exeter
Road network
Roads in the United Kingdom Motorways A and B road zones ← M4 M6 →

Route

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. Between junction 21, Weston-super-Mare and junction 22, Burnham-on-Sea, the M5 passes by an isolated landmark hill called Brent Knoll. The Willow Man sculpture is visible from both carriageways, and acts as a landmark just to the south of junction 23.

Junction 15 of the M5 is a large four-level stack interchange, named the Almondsbury Interchange, where the M5 meets the busy M4. The Avonmouth Bridge, between junctions 18 and 19, is often a bottleneck during heavy traffic periods, due mainly to lane drops at either ends of the bridge for the respective junctions, and the sharp angle in the centre of the bridge, which causes larger vehicles to slow considerably.[1] There are split-level carriageways where the M5 ascends the hillsides above the Gordano Valley, between Portishead, junction 19 and Clevedon, junction 20.

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 a new junction.[4] Worcestershire County Council, the Police and particularly the County Surveyor of Worcestershire made repeated representations that a dual 3-lane standard motorway was appropriate. The Ministry of Transport insisted that a dual 2-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 rather than 100 to reduce the loss of agricultural land. When the decision became necessary to widen the Worcestershire section of M5, it cost £123 million.[5]

The 2 miles (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][6] 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 3-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 & 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.[7] 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 UK Minister for Transport Industries in 1972 to illuminate the 86 miles (138 km) of UK motorway particularly prone to fog.[8]

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.[9]

As the M5 traffic increased in the 1980s Junction 11, the main Gloucester & Cheltenham access (via the A40 Golden Valley by-pass) became increasingly congested. At the same time there were plans for large scale business & 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, Junction 11A, some 3.5 miles south of Junction 11, was constructed & opened in the mid-1990s.

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,[10][11] 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.[12]

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 can now extend back onto the motorway.[13] This is because of an increase in traffic from Stroud intending to use the M5 northbound. The distance from Junctions 12 and 13 is similar and traffic congestion is heavy on the A419 towards Junction 13 whereas it is usually lighter on the B4008 towards Junction 12. As traffic leaving the M5 northbound towards Gloucester needs to give way to this traffic coming from the B4008, the queue on the motorway can extend beyond the first sign for the junction.

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 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.[14]

Proposals were announced in September 2009 for a new Gloucester Services between junctions 11a and 12.[15] A planning application was submitted in December 2009. Stroud District councillors approved the services in August 2010.[16] The Services opened in May 2014[17]

Future developments

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.[18][19]

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.[20]

Incidents and events

2011 multi-vehicle collision

Main article: 2011 M5 motorway crash

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.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23]

Discovery of bones

Main article: Murder of Melanie Hall

In October 2009, workmen clearing vegetation from the bottom of the M5 at Junction 14 discovered human bones in a black bin bag dumped in the bushes at the side of the motorway. 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, who disappeared in June 1996 after a night out in Bath, Somerset, 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.[24] As of 2016 no one has been prosecuted in connection with this case.

Junctions

Data from driver location signs are used to provide distance and carriageway identifier information.[25][26][27] Where both the start and end point of the junction are known, both have been included.

M5 motorway junctions
mile	km	North-east bound exits (B carriageway)	Junction	South-west bound exits (A carriageway)	Coordinates
0.0	0.0	London (M1, M40), Birmingham (N&E), The NORTH WEST, Walsall, Wolverhampton M6	M6 J8	Start of motorway	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	52.5119°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	52.4927°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	52.4491°N 2.0152°W / 52.4491; -2.0152 (M5, Junction 3)
		Entering West Midlands		Entering Worcestershire	52.43292°N 2.01751°W / 52.43292; -2.01751
		Frankley services	Services	Frankley services	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	52.3786°N 2.0465°W / 52.3786; -2.0465 (M5, Junction 4)
16.1	25.9	End of variable speed limit	J4A	London (M40), N.E.C., Birmingham M42	52.3543°N 2.0711°W / 52.3543; -2.0711 (M5, Junction 4A)
16.6	26.7	The NORTH EAST, N.E.C., Birmingham M42		Start of variable speed limit
21.4 21.7	34.5 35.0	Bromsgrove, Droitwich A38	J5	Droitwich A38	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	52.2128°N 2.1579°W / 52.2128; -2.1579 (M5, Junction 6)
		Start of variable speed limit		End of variable speed limit
30.2 30.7	48.6 49.4	Worcester (S), Evesham A44	J7	Worcester (S) A44	52.1687°N 2.1803°W / 52.1687; -2.1803 (M5, Junction 7)
		Strensham services (northbound)	Services	No access	52.0652°N 2.1577°W / 52.0652; -2.1577 (M5, Strensham services (northbound))
		No access		Strensham services (southbound)	52.0574°N 2.1426°W / 52.0574; -2.1426 (M5, Strensham services (southbound))
39.7	63.9	Entering Worcestershire	J8	SOUTH WALES, Ross M50	52.0478°N 2.1356°W / 52.0478; -2.1356 (M5, Junction 8)
40.0	64.4	SOUTH WALES, Ross M50		Entering Gloucestershire
		Entering Gloucestershire		River Avon	52.03071°N 2.12548°W / 52.03071; -2.12548 (M5, River Avon)
		River Avon		Entering Worcestershire
		Entering Worcestershire		Entering Gloucestershire	52.01131°N 2.12113°W / 52.01131; -2.12113
43.4 43.9	69.8 70.6	Tewkesbury A438, Evesham A46	J9	Evesham A46, Tewkesbury A438	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	51.9290°N 2.1400°W / 51.9290; -2.1400 (M5, Junction 10)
51.0 51.4	82.1 82.8	Gloucester, Cheltenham A40	J11	Cheltenham, Gloucester, Staverton A40	51.8897°N 2.1514°W / 51.8897; -2.1514 (M5, Junction 11)
53.4 54.0	85.9 86.9	Gloucester, Cirencester A417	J11A	London, Cirencester A417	51.8578°N 2.1735°W / 51.8578; -2.1735 (M5, Junction 11A)
		Gloucester services	Services	Gloucester services	51.8621°N 2.1667°W / 51.8621; -2.1667 (Gloucestershire gateway services)
60.2 60.5	96.9 97.4	Gloucester (A38)	J12	Gloucester (A38)	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	51.7598°N 2.3227°W / 51.7598; -2.3227 (M5, Junction 13)
71.9	115.7	Michaelwood services	Services	Michaelwood services	51.6567°N 2.4292°W / 51.6567; -2.4292 (M5, Michaelwood services)
73.6 73.9	118.4 119.0	Dursley B4509	J14	Thornbury B4509	51.6368°N 2.4521°W / 51.6368; -2.4521 (M5, Junction 14)
		End of variable speed limit	J15	Start of variable speed limit	51.5514°N 2.5524°W / 51.5514; -2.5524 (M5, Junction 15)</sma
81.1 81.7	130.5 131.5	SOUTH WALES, Chepstow (M48) M4(W) London M4(E)		London, Bristol (C) (M32) M4(E) SOUTH WALES, Chepstow (M48) M4(W)
82.0 82.3	132.0 132.5	Thornbury, Filton A38	J16	Thornbury, Filton A38	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	51.5286°N 2.6102°W / 51.5286; -2.6102 (M5, Junction 17)
		Start of variable speed limit		End of variable speed limit
		Entering Gloucestershire		Entering Bristol	51.51304°N 2.65208°W / 51.51304; -2.65208
87.4 87.7	140.6 141.2	SOUTH WALES, Cardiff, Newport M49 (M4(W))	J18A	No access (on-slip only)	51.5021°N 2.6740°W / 51.5021; -2.6740 (M5, Junction 18A)
88.0 88.2	141.6 142.0	Bristol, Bristol , Shirehampton, Avonmouth, Docks A4, Aust (A403)	J18	Avonmouth, Bristol (West), Bristol A4	51.5026°N 2.6728°W / 51.5026; -2.6728 (M5, Junction 18)
		Entering Bristol		Avonmouth Bridge	51.4890°N 2.6928°W / 51.4890; -2.6928 (M5, Avonmouth Bridge)
		Avonmouth Bridge		Entering Somerset
90.1	145.0	Clifton (Toll), Portishead, Royal Portbury Dock A369 Gordano services	J19 Services	Portishead, Royal Portbury Dock A369 Gordano services	51.4774°N 2.7117°W / 51.4774; -2.7117 (M5, Junction 19)
96.7	155.6	Clevedon, Nailsea B3133	J20	Clevedon, Nailsea B3133	51.4322°N 2.8387°W / 51.4322; -2.8387 (M5, Junction 20)
102.3	164.6	Weston-super-Mare, Bristol (S) A370	J21	Weston-super-Mare A370	51.3589°N 2.8936°W / 51.3589; -2.8936 (M5, Junction 21)
109.1	175.6	Sedgemoor services	Services	Sedgemoor services	51.2689°N 2.9214°W / 51.2689; -2.9214 (M5, Sedgemoor services)
111.7	179.8	Burnham-on-Sea B3140 Bristol (S) & Airport A38 Weston-super-Mare (A370)	J22	Highbridge A38 Burnham-on-Sea B3140	51.2360°N 2.9467°W / 51.2360; -2.9467 (M5, Junction 22)
116.9	188.1	Highbridge A38 Glastonbury, Wells A39	J23	Bridgwater A38 Minehead, Glastonbury, Wells A39	51.1670°N 2.9809°W / 51.1670; -2.9809 (M5, Junction 23)
121.8 122.0	196.0 196.3	Bridgwater, Minehead A38 Bridgwater services	J24 Services	Minehead A38 (A39) Bridgwater services	51.1019°N 2.9940°W / 51.1019; -2.9940 (M5, Junction 24)
128.4 128.6	206.7 206.9	Taunton, Yeovil A358	J25	Taunton, Honiton, Yeovil, Weymouth A358	51.0178°N 3.0636°W / 51.0178; -3.0636 (M5, Junction 25)
133.3	214.5	Taunton Deane services	Services	Taunton Deane services	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	50.9730°N 3.1914°W / 50.9730; -3.1914 (M5, Junction 26)
		Entering Somerset		Entering Devon	50.94953°N 3.27365°W / 50.94953; -3.27365
143.4 143.7	230.7 231.3	Barnstaple, Tiverton A361, Wellington A38	J27	Tiverton, Barnstaple A361 Willand (B3181)	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 Cullompton services	50.8609°N 3.3838°W / 50.8609; -3.3838 (M5, Junction 28)
157.7 158.1	253.8 254.4	Honiton A30 Exeter	J29	Honiton A30 East Exeter	50.72880°N 3.4624°W / 50.72880; -3.4624 (M5, Junction 29)
158.9 159.3	255.7 256.3	Exeter A379, Exmouth A376 Sidmouth (A3052) Exeter services	J30 Services	Exeter, Dawlish A379 Exmouth A376 Sidmouth (A3052) Exeter services	50.7124°N 3.4638°W / 50.7124; -3.4638 (M5, Junction 30)
162.4 162.6	261.4 261.7	Start of motorway	J31	Bodmin, Okehampton A30	50.6801°N 3.5166°W / 50.6801; -3.5166 (M5, Junction 31)
162.7	261.8	Okehampton A30 West Exeter (A377) Non-motorway traffic		Road continues as A38 Plymouth A38 Torquay (A380)	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). 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.[28]

See also

• List of motorways in the United Kingdom

References

Notes

1. "Out and About In Bristol". Tour UK. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
2. Charlesworth, George (1984), pp.135–140.
3. Charlesworth, George (1984), Table 7.3 – pp.100–123.
4. "The Motorway Archive – M5 Widening, junctions 3 to 8". Iht.org. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. Ordnance Survey One Inch Map of Great Britain, Series 7 Sheet 156, major roads revised 1963.
7. "SABRE Photo Gallery".
8. "News: Motorway lighting". Autocar. Vol. 137 nbr 3978. 13 July 1972. p. 19.
9. "The Motorway Archive – M42". Iht.org. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
10. Sky News – UK's Longest Contraflow Archived 14 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
11. "'Most complex' contraflow". BBC News. 29 October 2005. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
12. Western Daily Press – West beware! It's Britain's biggest road contraflow
13. "Agency admits error over junction". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 November 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
14. "Night switch-off for M5 lighting". BBC News. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
15. "Eco-services plan for M5". This is Gloucestershire. 17 September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
16. "Plans for Gloucestershire M5 service station approved". BBC News Gloucestershire. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
17. "Planning background". Gloucestershiregatewayservies. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
18. "M5 will be extended to Plymouth if these business leaders get their wish". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
19. "Calls to extend M5 from Exeter to Plymouth". ITV. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
20. "Taunton £18m motorway upgrade approved". BBC News. 9 March 2018.
21. "Seven confirmed dead in M5 accident in Somerset". BBC News. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
22. O'Carroll, Lisa (5 November 2011). "M5 Crash: Latest Updates: Live". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
23. 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.
24. "Man held over Melanie Hall M5 murder inquiry". BBC News. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
25. "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.
26. J11-J18: Driver Location Signs, M5 J18-11, M4 J22-15 (map) Highway Authority 2009
27. J19-J30: Driver Location Signs, M5 J19-30 (map) – Highway Authority, 2009
28. "The Annotated Fall - M5 #1". The Annotated Fall. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.

Sources

• Charlesworth, George (1984). A History of British Motorways. London: Thomas Telford Ltd. ISBN 0-7277-0159-2.

Further reading

• Jackson, Mike (2003). The M5 Sights Guide. Severnpix. ISBN 978-0954540203.

External links

Template:Attached KML/M5 motorway

KML is from Wikidata

• Central Motorway Police Group
• CBRD Motorway Database – M5
• CBRD videos – M5
• Major roads of Great Britain – M5
• The Motorway Archive
  • Junctions 1 to 2 and other Midlands motorways
  • Junctions 3 to 8
  • Junctions 3 to 8 widening
  • Junctions 8 to 22
  • Junctions 22 to 31