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Weekly Round-up of Road Works in Bath, Bristol, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire

Government Communications (NDS)

5 April 2012

BristolM5 Junction 15-17As part of the work to transform the M4 and M5 at the Almondsbury interchange near Bristol to a managed motorway, the M5 motorway will be closed overnight, in one direction at a time, from 10 to 15 April. The closures will be in place between Junction 15 and 17 of the M5 from 10pm to 6am each night, to allow the installation of roadworks, including narrow lanes and a temporary 50mph speed limit, onto the M5. The M5 northbound will be closed for the first three nights, with the M5 southbound closed for the remaining three nights. Clearly signed diversion routes will be in place during the closures.East DevonM5 Junction 29Lane closures remain in place on the A30, M5 northbound off-slip and southbound off-slip at Junction 29 as work continues to upgrade the junction.Some lane restrictions are being removed or partially removed during the morning and evening rush hours to minimise delays as much as possible.The right turn from A30 westbound to M5 North also remains closed. Traffic is being diverted via Moor Lane Roundabout, back onto the eastbound carriageway of the A30 to continue northbound on the M5. Routes for cyclists and pedestrians are being maintained through the scheme, with some minor diversions.From 07 December, works to carry out construction activities including carriageway widening, surfacing, drainage, loop cutting and gantry erection works will require the overnight closure of: * the northbound exit slip road at M5 Junction 29;* the northbound entry slip road at M5 Junction 29;* the southbound entry slip road at M5 Junction 29.Only one slip road would be closed at a time. There would also be lane closures through the works.Gloucestershire A40 Trunk Road at Huntley Hill in the District of Forest of DeanWork on the A40 Trunk Road at Huntley Hill, west of Gloucester, will require a 40 miles per hour speed limit from a point 300 metres east of the centre of its junction with Hinders Lane to a point 300 metres west of the centre of its junction with Saunders Close. This measure would be in the interests of road safety until embankment stabilisation works and the installation of a permanent safety barrier can be carried out. It is expected that the speed limit would start on or after 21 April 2011 and last until the danger to the public has ended. M4 Motorway – Junction 22 Works on the M4 at junction 22 will require the overnight closure of:* the eastbound carriageway of the M4 between the exit and entry slip roads at Junction 22* the eastbound exit slip road at M4 Junction 22. These measures would be in the interests of road safety while contractors carry out the replacement of traffic loops for a weigh-in-motion system. It is expected that the works would take place on the M4 eastbound between 11 and 12 April 2012. SomersetNo planned roadworks.WiltshireA419 trunk road – Commonhead Roundabout, SwindonCarriageway surveying and general maintenance works will require the overnight closure of the southbound and northbound carriageways of the A419 Trunk Road between the respective exit and entry slip roads at the A4259 Commonhead Roundabout.It is expected that the works would take place for one night every six weeks between 19 December 2011 and 20 November 2012. ENDSNOTES TO EDITORS 1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England’s motorways and other strategic roads on behalf of the Secretary of State. 2. Maintenance and improvement projects: We plan maintenance and improvement projects carefully to allow road works to be completed safely, in a cost effective way while keeping disruption to road users to a minimum. We do as much work as possible overnight and when roads are less busy in order to keep more lanes open for road users at peak travel times. Drivers are advised to check their route for road works and allow extra time for their journeys where needed. We have a variety of journey planning tools that road users can use to check travel conditions on the roads we manage, and we will do all we can to keep road users informed.3. Safety at roadworks: The Highways Agency is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of road workers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks: - Keep within the speed limit – it is there for your safety.- Get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching.- Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.- Be alert for works’ traffic leaving or entering roadworks.- Keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front.- Observe all signs – they are there to help you.4. Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and other strategic roads is available:- From the web at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device. - By phone from the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 at any time. (Calls to 0300 numbers will cost no more than 5p per minute from a standard BT residential landline. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary, but will be no more than a standard geographic call and will be included in all inclusive minutes and discount schemes). Make sure it’s safe and legal before you call. Before using any mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. - On an iPhone app which will automatically select the region you are in. Free to download from the iTunes store or search for Highways Agency on your device.- From Twitter – there are eight feeds with live traffic information provided by region. For information on roads in the South West follow us at @HAtraffic_swest or for the full index visit www.highways.gov.uk/twitter.5. Receive our national and regional press releases by RSS and get the latest headlines straight to your desktop the moment we publish them to our website. Choose to receive a national press feed or one of our regionalised feeds - go to www.highways.gov.uk/rssnews for more information.Issued by Cabinet Office Regional News Network South West on behalf of the Highways Agency. For further information please contact Vas Sofokleous on 0117 917 5354 or vas.sofokleous@co.gsi.gov.uk . Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office (24hrs) on 020 7081 7443.