Motorway closure work captured by drone

Image caption,

The closure ends on Monday

Slide 1 of 4, An wide shot showing an empty M4 motorway, with surrounding countryside and buildings alongisde, The closure ends on Monday

Cheryl Dennis & Leigh Boobyer

BBC News, West of England

It is not often large holes are dug into one of the West of England’s busiest stretches of motorway.

The M4 is currently closed in both directions between junctions 18 and 19 near Bristol,and will be shut until 06:00 BST on Monday.

About 4,000 vehicles use this section of the M4 every hour during peak times on the weekend.

The work will allow utilities, currently housed in the Badminton Road bridge, to be diverted before the structure is demolished next year.

Nearly 60 years after the bridge over the motorway was built, it needs to be demolished and replaced after cracks started showing.

These drone pictures show the roadworks that has caused the weekend closure.

Media caption,

Watch drone footage which shows why M4 is closed this weekend

Nearby residents and drivers told the BBC the diversions are making local roads “a bit of a nightmare”.

Mum of five-year-old Pippin, Shanta Amdurer, said he is cycling 20 miles from Bristol to Bath for charity – but ” no one can support him as they’re stuck in different areas”.

She said: “We’re struggling today trying to get from one point to the other. This isn’t normal.

Image caption,

About 4,000 vehicles use this stretch of motorway every hour on peak weekend periods

Image caption,

Ms Amdurer said the roads are “really congested”

“People have come from Hampshire and Portsmouth but we’re stuck in different areas. It’s been really stressful trying to get from one place to the other.

“I don’t know [if he’ll make it], I hope so. It’s really congested.”

National Highways route manager Sean Walsh said drivers should allow extra time on their journeys during the closure or avoid the area.

He added that “sometimes it’s not possible to carry out the work that’s needed without a closure”.

Speaking on Badminton Road Bridge and looking at the works, Dave Jones said: “It’s very impressive.

“I’ve never seen the motorway this empty.

“It’s always good to see what engineering feats are happening.”