M5

M5
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From:	West Bromwich (SP013957)
To:	Exeter (SX926877)
Via:	Birmingham, Worcester, Gloucester, Bristol, Taunton
Length:	166 miles (267.1 km)
Meets:	M4, M6, M42, M49, M50, A30, A38, A40
Former Number(s):	A38
Primary Destinations
Birmingham • Bridgwater • Bristol • Bromsgrove • Cheltenham Spa • Exeter • Gloucester • Taunton • West Bromwich • Weston-super-Mare • Worcester •
Highways Authorities
Highways Agency
Traditional Counties
Devon • Gloucestershire • Somerset • Staffordshire • Worcestershire
Route outline (key)
M5 West Bromwich — Exeter
Junction List
Junc Northbound Southbound M6 J8 M6 Start of Road 1 A41 A41 2 A4123 A4123 3 A456 A456 Frankley Services 4 A38, A491 A38, A491 4A M42 M42 5 A38 A38 6 A449, A4440, A4538 A449, A4440, A4538 7 A44 A44 Strensham Services 8 M50 M50 9 A46, A438 A46, A438 10 A4019 Staverton Services 11 A40 A40 11A A417 A417 Gloucestershire Gateway Services 12 (A38) (A38) Moreton Valence Services 13 A419 A419 Michaelwood Services 14 B4509 B4509 15 M4 M4 16 A38 A38 17 A4018, B4055 A4018, B4055 18A M49 No Exit 18 A4 A4 Gordano Services (at J19) 19 A369 A369 20 B3133 B3133 Kingston Seymour Services 21 A370 A370 Sedgemoor services 22 A38 A38 23 A39 A39 Bridgwater services (at J24) 24 A38 A38 North Petherton Services 25 A358 A358 Taunton Deane Services 26 A38 A38 27 A38, A361 A38, A361 ' A38 Temporary Start of Road Willand Services Cullompton Services (at J28) 28 B3181, A373 B3181, A373 ' Temporary Start of Road A38 29 A30 A30 Exeter Services (at J30) 30 A376, A379 A376, A379 31 Start of Road A30, A38

Motorway running between the M6 near Birmingham and the A30 and A38 at Exeter. It meets the M42, M50, M49 and M4, and is the major route into the southwest of England from the Midlands and the north, as well as being part of the receommended route from London. Part of the section between J27 and J29 was opened as the A38 Cullompton Bypass.

Devon and Cornwall's tourist industry is very thankful for the M5, because nowadays trundling down the A38 would be a bad enough experience to put many holidaymakers off travelling to the South West. Now the M5 is primarily a route for holiday traffic and does this quite well, although on summer Saturdays and Bank Holidays it becomes a congested caravan-filled car park. However, in the winter months, it can be a clear run from the M6 to Exeter. Beginning from the south, the M5 really passes through nowhere in particular apart from Taunton and Bridgwater and most traffic on here is heading to Bristol and beyond. The junctions are only really there because it was a while since the last one. On a typical day, the first hold-up is likely to be at the Avonmouth bridge, which is currently (October 2009) undergoing strengthening works. This, despite the time of year, has caused massive problems at weekends and Friday evenings. From then on, it will probably be a clear run right up to Ray Hall interchange, where you are likely to grind to a halt. This is because the M5 unloads itself onto the choked-already M6 without a single lain gain. This is a recipe for disaster and from 3:30 to around 7 every weekday night, queues usually stretch back to junction 1.

Contents 1 Junctions 1.1 Ray Hall Interchange 1.2 Almondsbury Interchange 1.3 Strensham Interchange 2 Services 2.1 Frankley services 2.2 Gordano services 3 Structures 3.1 Avonmouth Bridge 4 Opening Dates 5 Schemes and Maintenance 6 Links

Junctions

Ray Hall Interchange

Ray Hall is the northern terminus of the M5 in West Bromwich. It is a standard directional-T interchange with the M6. The road is, however, extremely congested at this point and tailbacks often form along several miles of the preceding motorway.

Almondsbury Interchange

The Almondsbury Interchange is the main junction for traffic to interchange between the M4 and M5, and is interlinked with M5 junction 16, which provides access to the A38. The junction was the first example of a four-level stack in the country. Link roads connecting from M4 to M5 pass over the top level of the interchange and links from the M5 to the M4 pass underneath all other levels.

Strensham Interchange

The Strensham Interchange is the junction linking the M5 to the M50. For the M5, it is a standard roundabout interchange, whilst it is a flat roundabout for the M50, of which it is also the terminus. The southbound exit for Strensham Services also feeds into this roundabout, merging with the off-slip from the M5.

Services

Frankley services

Frankley is a small MSA near to Birmingham, and has been recognised several times as offering a poor service.

Gordano services

Gordano services are a single-site MSA near to Bristol, and was the first MSA on the British motorway network to be located at a junction. It is a popular site, winning several awards.

Structures

Avonmouth Bridge

The Avonmouth Bridge is a major crossing of the River Avon to the west of Bristol. Its completion was delayed and for a while the M5 was open either side of the bridge, but not across the bridge itself causing traffic to detour via Bristol, with many long delays.

Opening Dates

Schemes and Maintenance

Start	Completion	Location	Type	Notes
25 April 2005	17 October 2005	J17 - J18A	Addition of northbound climbing lane
October 2005	30 June 2006	J19 - J20	Addition of northbound and southbound climbing lanes
May 2009	July 2009	J4 - J4A	Streetlight renewal
November 2009	Ongoing	J3- J4	Replacing central reservation

Links

• CBRD Motorway Database: M5
• SABRE: Parallel widening of M5 - a photo diary
• SABRE: Cullompton Bypass & J27 discussion
• SABRE: J5 alteration discussion